Official Portrait of President Ronald Reagan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In 1916, William Boetcker, a Presbyterian minister, published a pamphlet called “The Ten Can-Nots.” These words of wisdom are usually attributed to Abraham Lincoln; but Honest Abe didn’t write them, Reverend Boetcker did.

All true Conservatives know in their hearts that these things are true. We are all pretty much alike in our thinking. A Conservative holds fast to the things that are true, and rejects the rest.

These ten statements are just common sense. The Liberal Mind cannot accept or believe the truth.

Read Reverend Boetcker’s Ten Can-Nots for yourself, and see if you think they are true, or not. I think that they are the essence of Conservatism.

1. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

2. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

3. You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.

4. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

5. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

6. You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.

7. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

8. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.

9. You cannot build character and courage by destroying men’s initiative and independence.

10. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.

                          

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I ran across this story by accident while I was looking for something else. Ronald Reagan told it in one of his most famous speeches. I’ve never heard it before, and you probably haven’t either. It’s a fascinating story and I have to share it with you.

A stranger showed up at Independence Hall and persuaded the Founding Fathers to sign the Declaration of Independence. And, well, I’ll let you read the rest of the story for yourself in the words of President Reagan:

“Some years ago a writer, who happened to be an avid student of history, told me a story about that day in the little hall in Philadelphia where honorable men, hard-pressed by a King who was flouting the very law they were willing to obey, debated whether they should take the fateful step of declaring their independence from that king. I was told by this man that the story could be found in the writings of Jefferson. I confess, I never researched or made an effort to verify it. Perhaps it is only legend.

But story, or legend, he described the atmosphere, the strain, the debate, and that as men for the first time faced the consequences of such an irretrievable act, the walls resounded with the dread word of treason and its price — the gallows and the headman’s axe. As the day wore on the issue hung in the balance, and then, according to the story, a man rose in the small gallery.

He was not a young man and was obviously calling on all the energy he could muster. Citing the grievances that had brought them to this moment he said, “Sign that parchment. They may turn every tree into a gallows, every home into a grave and yet the words of that parchment can never die. For the mechanic in his workshop, they will be words of hope, to the slave in the mines — freedom.”

And he added, “If my hands were freezing in death, I would sign that parchment with my last ounce of strength. Sign, sign if the next moment the noose is around your neck, sign even if the hall is ringing with the sound of headman’s axe, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom, the bible of the rights of man forever. And then it is said he fell back exhausted.

But 56 delegates, swept by his eloquence, signed the Declaration of Independence, a document destined to be as immortal as any work of man can be. And according to the story, when they turned to thank him for his timely oratory, he could not be found nor were there any who knew who he was or how he had come in or gone out through the locked and guarded doors.”

The most amazing thing about this that the man appeared and disappeared inside a locked room. What is equally amazing is that nobody knew who he was. Who was this mysterious visitor? And, did this really happen?

I think that it did. This was one of the most important meetings in the history of the world; and God had a stake in the outcome. I think that he sent a angel from heaven to strengthen and encourage those men. The word “angel” literally means messenger. They received a message from God and they acted on it.

The Bible tells us, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2 NIV)

This is an excerpt from Ronald Reagan’s “Shining City on a Hill speech,” given on January 25,1974.

                          

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Socialism and Communism never work out in practice. They have failed every time they’ve been tried. The best example of the failure of Communism is the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the USSR. If Communism worked, they would still exist; but they’ve been swept into the dustbin of history.

The Soviets didn’t fail for lack of trying. They tried very hard to make it work. They murdered the Czar, his wife, and children. They confiscated all the money, the property,  the means of production, and everything else of value. They oppressed the people. They murdered everyone who dissented with them. They did their best to destroy Capitalism, by exporting Communism throughout the world; and their precious theory of Communism still didn’t work.

Even though a large percentage of the people were working on the state owned farms, the Soviets were unable to feed themselves. Meanwhile, in the USA, we were producing enough food to feed the world.

Communism will never work because it is contrary to human nature. Karl Marx wasn’t such a genius after all. He failed to consider these facts about human behavior:  (1) When a government confiscates everything the people produce, they’re going to stop producing. (2) When a government pays people for doing nothing, they’re going to do nothing. This has been demonstrated over and over again in every Socialist or Communist country.

In America, we knew that Communism doesn’t work because we had already tried it. The Pilgrims practiced socialism in America in 1620. Then, when they were facing death from starvation, they had to abandon it. There was no Federal Government to bail them out.

Their leader, Governor Bradford, was a Christian. He turned to the Bible to find out what to do. Then he implemented the following rule. “If a man will not work, neither shall he eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10) Every man was given a plot of land where he could grow his own food; and allowed to keep everything he produced. Each individual produced enough food for himself and his family. Most of them had a surplus to trade for something else. This was the beginning of capitalism in America.

American Socialists and Communists disregard these lessons of history. You would think that they would listen to one of their own kind, Fidel Castro. Castro did everything that the Soviets did. Now he says that Communism doesn’t work. He is an expert witness. This should have been a big news story; but it was not reported by our Socialist main-stream media. They must be pretending that they didn’t hear what he said.  You can read his remarks for yourself at the following link:

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/fidel-castro-admits-communism-doesnt-work

Socialism has destroyed the economy of every nation in Europe; but American Socialists and Communists still want to “fundamentally transform” America into a socialist state. They don’t care that it doesn’t work.It is their religion and they are determined to impose it on us.

They don’t believe in God and they don’t believe the Bible. As pathetic as it is, socialism is all they have. They are the bitter clingers. They are still clinging to their gun-control and to their religion.

IF WE DON’T STOP THEM, they’re going to implement it anyway. It’s like Edmund Burke said “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

We can easily defeat them at the ballot box; because there are many more Christian capitalists  than there are Liberals, Socialists, and Communists put together. We can put an end to their evil schemes by voting all of them out of office in November of 2012.

                          

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George Washington Carver was a creative genius.  He invented crop rotation, and discovered over 300 new uses for peanuts. He was a friend of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and three American Presidents. He saved the economy of the South from the devastation that followed the Civil War; and this was in spite of the fact that his father and mother were slaves. How was he able to accomplish all of these things? This is his answer to that question:

“There is literally nothing that I ever wanted to do, that I asked the blessed Creator to help me to do, that I have not been able to accomplish. It’s all very simple, if one knows how to talk with the Creator. It is simply seeking the Lord and finding Him… all my life I have risen regularly at four o’clock and have gone into the woods and talked with God.

There he gives me my orders for the day…when people are still asleep I hear God best and learn my plan…after my morning’s talk with God I go into my laboratory and begin to carry out His wishes for the day.”

Mr. Carver’s greatest personal discovery was the Lord Jesus Christ. He believed the Bible and did exactly what it says. And it worked for him just like Jesus said it would: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26)

The Holy Spirit showed him how to do those things, and he will help you in your work. Get to know him and stay in fellowship with him. There is no problem that he cannot solve. Ask God to teach you the things that you need to know, and listen for his “still small voice,” (the voice of your conscience) and do whatever God tells you to do.

Mr. Carver’s quote was taken from The Man Who Talks With the Flowers, by Glenn Park.

http://www.amazon.com/Flowers–Intimate-George-Washington-Carver/dp/161427066X/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1312231647&sr=1-2

                          

Benjamin Franklin was eighty-one years old at the time of the Constitutional Convention. He knew that if it had not been for God, we could not have defeated the most powerful military force in the world, and won our independence from Great Britain.

The delegates were unable to agree on anything at first. Then, they adopted Franklin’s motion to begin each session by praying together. With God’s help, they put together the American Constitution, and created our government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

“How has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. . . . And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance.

I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth–that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that ‘except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; . . . ”

                          

I used to read every book I could find on the subject of success. Until I realized that the Bible is the ultimate success book, and that is no true success apart from God.

Napoleon Hill interviewed the world’s richest men, discovered “The Secret” of success, and revealed it to us in Think and Grow Rich. He explained it like this: “Whatever you can conceive and believe, you can achieve.”

That’s very close to what Jesus said: “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that you receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:23)

Henry Ford’s version of “The Secret” was this: “Think you can’t. Think you can. Either way you’re right.” That idea also originated in the Bible: “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) And, “All things are possible to him that believeth.” (Mark 9:23)

Rhonda Byrne’s version of “ The Secret” is, in essence: Whatever you think about is what you’re going to get. The Bible says: “Guard your heart above everything else for it determines the circumstances of your life.” (Proverbs 4:3 NIV)

These self-help authors have left God out of the mix. They have taken his ideas without acknowledging him. They have insulted God further by acting like he doesn’t exist. But it is God who put these principles in motion and he causes them to work.

The self-help authors say, “Believe in Belief,” and “Have faith in Faith.” As if wishful thinking causes everything to happen, or that some mindless force provides everything we demand.

I say, “Believe in God” and “Have faith in God.” Your success begins and ends with him. Seek him early in your life. Get to know him and follow his instructions. Then, God will give you the true riches of life.

Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. Bill Gates is the richest man in the world, but he is an atheist. Warren Buffett is another billionaire who doesn’t believe in God. “But what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)

Even the poorest Christian has eternal possessions that are worth more than all of their billions of dollars. Eternal life is only one of them.

The Bible is God’s blueprint for success. When you understand it, you will do what it says. And then, this prophecy of the scripture will apply to you:

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

                          

“The evil that men do lives after them.”  William Shakespeare

Reverend Jeremiah Wright was a  Black Muslim before becoming a Christian minister. He is the former pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, a 10,000 member African-American megachurch. Revered Wright preached the gospel of Social Justice, Collective Salvation, and Black Liberation theology. I feel sorry for the people in his church who never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was Barack Obama’s pastor and mentor for twenty years. President Obama is standing on his shoulders. Thanks a lot, Reverend Wright.

This is the link to his most famous sermon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hPR5jnjtLo

This is what the Bible says about preachers like him:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Matthew 7:15-16

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Acts 20:29-30

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 2 Corinthians 1:6-8