Thanksgiving Origins

My Grandfather read an article around the Thanksgiving table. Here is the following link: The Great Thansgiving Hoax by Richard J. Maybury.

Just some of my thoughts:

First off, I find it intriguing that American schools have failed to teach these facts. I was not home schooled my whole life. I grew up in and out of foster care until I was adopted at the age of 13 (another topic, at another time). My teachers always told me that thanksgiving was the result of the pilgrims thanking the Indians for help. My father has mentioned that the socialists claimed they would destroy America without ever firing a gun. It appears that they weren't bluffing. As long as socialists control schooling and media, they have us.


Another thought provoking concept was that of the commerce of Jamestown. John Smith had momentarily left Jamestown in an exploration, leaving Matthew Scrivener in Charge. When he returned, he discovered that Jamestown's farming commerce was less than satisfactory. In 1608, he was elected president of the local council ending the Common Store System through the philosophy of this verse: "For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either" (NASB).

Thirdly, American's remain ignorant of our holiday origins. I am not discouraging celebration of such holiday's, but it's good to know how some of our common traditions came into fruition. For example, Christmas was a festival dedicated to the Sun god coming back into power. Easter originated as the festival for Ishtar. So if any of you are wary of partaking in pagan holiday's, consider doing some research. Maybe in a few weeks I'll help you all out and post an article describing in more detail the traditions of Christmas.


Nevertheless, give thanks to God, and thank you for reading.

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Truth

John 8:31-36:

 "So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed him, "If you continue in my word, {then} you are truly disciples of mine: and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

They answered him "We are Abrahams descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that you say, 'You will become free'?"

Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

"The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.

"So if the son makes you free, you will be free indeed." (NASB)

Often times, when I, or someone else I know quotes this scripture, we only quote the last part of the first paragraph "and you shall know the truth[...]." On occasion, I may even hear "So if the son makes you free, you will be free indeed." Rarely do I hear the surrounding verses. The consequence is that we Christians miss an important concept.


Read the above verse again. Notice the prerequisite for truth? Jesus said that if you continue in his word (the definition of being his disciple), then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

My original thought was that he was referring to salvation. Notice however, that he was talking to those who already believed him. He was referring not to salvation, but to discipleship. Perhaps they are one and the same, but I don't think so.

What is it that the truth sets us free from? Sin. Conversely, deception entangles us in it. Have you noticed that whenever Satan tempted someone, he used deception. He told Eve a lie to get her to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. He told Jesus lies and even twisted scripture in an attempt to get Jesus to sin. Satan's best (perhaps only) tool is deception. We sin when we believe in his lies, but if we know the truth, how can Satan deceive us? He can't.

Unfortunately, we humans are quite fallible, better yet, gullible. The prince of this world is spoon feeding the earth with his lies. The result is that although truth may be staring us right in the face, we don't see it. The Pharisees in Jesus' time are a good example

But don't think that deception has escaped us Christians. It becomes clear that Christians are being deceived when we face so many contrasting beliefs. The Bible never contradicts itself, yet we Christians argue about doctrine and claim that our beliefs come from the same source. If the Bible does not contradict, then the only conclusion left is that someone is being deceived. Of course, as long as we believe in Jesus Christ and his salvation, whatever else I believe isn't important, Right?

Wrong! To the contrary, a little leaven leavens the whole lump (Gal. 5.9). In today's society I hear the phrase "everyone is entitled to there own opinion," but let me steal a quote from Relient K "Opinions are immunity to be told your wrong." We cannot let deception go by for the sake of escaping arguments. Search the scriptures. Find out if your beliefs are founded in God's Word, just be careful not to twist scripture to fit your beliefs. Instead, take the Bible at face value. If you have to work to make something fit, then perhaps it shouldn't fit at all.

Furthermore, do not be quick to assume that you have escaped Satan's schemes.  Regardless of who told you and how long you have believed what you have believed, it is always possible that you have accepted a lie. Even I, high and mighty I, :), have been deceived.

So, God, where have I been deceived? May your truth set me free.

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College Failure

Thursday morning I heard some excellent news. However, before I tell you exactly what the news is, I find the need to give a little bit of a backdrop. No worries though, it shouldn't take long (unless you're a slow reader, in which case it's your own fault :) ).

In the fall of 2006 (at the age of 16) I began a chapter in my life called college. This was made possible by Washington State's Running Start Program. The program gave me and other juniors in high school the opportunity to take college courses as a substitute for high school classes. This program is intended to give high school students the opportunity to graduate high school with their associate's degree.

Sounds great, doesn't it? Unfortunately, that fall quarter didn't turn out quite as well as I expected.  I didn't pass my Spanish class. The second quarter didn't fare any better. The third quarter? I failed two classes.  The result of that spring quarter was a suspension from the fall quarter.

Fast forward to today. I have already been suspended for my failing GPA two (or is it three) times. I changed degrees in 2008, and due to finances, had to skip both the spring and summer quarter of 2009.  The consequence of my failures: a two year degree has quickly turned into a five year Associates.

Pretty sad isn't it? And here I was talking about good news? Don't worry, I'm getting there.

How is it that I ended up failing so many classes? I'm by no means stupid (please don't proofread this essay), and yet I have a GPA barely above 2.0.

This is typically where people start blaming their parents, teachers, the public school system (before my homeschooling experience of course), and tragic life circumstances. Although I have had a difficult childhood, I won't pull that wild card. The truth of the matter is: one of the greatest shortcomings I possess is self-discipline. Every common good habit from brushing and flossing twice a day to doing homework, I seem to lack. It is the number one thing I can't stand about myself, but a flaw that I apparently don't try hard enough to change.  I know everyone possess their own distinct flaws, but sometimes my flaws seem more pronounced than others. The bottom line of this rabbit trail is that the bulk of the blame falls on me.  Anyway, without further adieu, the good news.

Currently I am passing all of my classes. In fact, I believe that if I tried hard enough, I can get a 4.0 this quarter.  Of course, with 3 more weeks to go, I can still fail all of my classes as well, but let's not be pessimistic.  This quarter is the first college quarter that, up to the 7th week, I have had A's and B's in all of my classes.  The good news doesn't end here.

I was having a conversation with one of my peers in my programming class, and in lieu of the talk, discovered that I can easily switch my degree to a transferable degree.  Let me explain in a little more detail.

Previously, I did not want a transfer degree. The reason was bundled up into one word: Spanish.  I have tried to learn Spanish and have failed, only to pass the second time taking the class. I merely repeated the cycle in Spanish 102.  I don't want to fail the third Spanish class. I already know that I would be a fish out of water. Unfortunately, learning a second language is a requirement for many of the transfer degrees that are offered at LCC, and I don't have the guts to take Spanish again.

The above conversation with my peer helped me discover that not only does this transfer degree require no second language, but also that the only difference between the non-transfer and transferable degree is that the first requires a minimum of Math 99, whereas the second requires a minimum of Math 107.  I have already taken Math 113.  I've gone beyond both of them.  And to think that all this time I was selling myself short.

When I was thirteen, I never thought I would make it to college.  When I started college, I never thought I would get a Bachelor's Degree. Now, for the first time in my life, I have started to consider that possibility.

I would say that that qualifies for good news.

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