Sunday, October 30, 2011

Internet Daily Chapel for Week Of October 30, 2011Featuring An Exhortation: "My Children, Love One Another!"

Internet Daily Chapel for Week Of October 30, 2011
Featuring An Exhortation: "My Children, Love One Another!" - If you keep
just this one commandment, it will suffice.

HTML HOME PAGES
The primary URL for this page is =>
http://internetchurchofchrist.org/idc103011.html
The latest edition of Internet Daily Chapel should always be at =>
http://internetchurchofchrist.org/idc.html

By Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org
Search our pages => http://loveallpeople.org/searchallpages.html


"Dear Lord: Please put the right thoughts in my mind, words in my
mouth, and actions
in my hands and feet, that I might please You best today. In Jesus'
name I pray, Amen."

NOTE: The advertising above is served automatically by Google and may be
theologically incorrect.
Worship Service, Featuring An Exhortation: "My Children, Love One
Another!" - If you keep just this one commandment, it will suffice. - plus
much more.

PRAYER TO UNITE THE VIEWERS OF THIS PAGE

Dear Lord, please let the viewers of this page
Unite with You this moment, at one time.
And let our worship please You, here and now.
In Jesus' holy name we pray, Amen.


To see the video at its source, please visit => Why We Worship Together -
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=F91FFMNU

Invocation - Inviting God To Be with Us
O Lord, we come together in Your name,
And as You promised, we know You are here.
AND SO WE WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS,
AND PRAY THAT YOU FIND PLEASURE HERE WITH US,
AS WE, YOUR LOVING CHILDREN WORSHIP YOU.

We now invite You to reveal Yourself,
And share with us Your presence, openly,

FOR YOU ARE EVERYTHING THAT WE DESIRE,
AND EVERYTHING WE HAVE, WE GIVE TO YOU.

In Jesus' holy name we pray, Amen.

If you are a new Christian, we invite you to visit our page at
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/newchristian.html

Welcome
Welcome to the online worship service at Internet Church Of Christ. Here
is a good place to worship our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. You are
invited and are welcome at any time. Blessings to you in Him.

Opening Song
"He Leadeth Me"


To see this video at YouTube, please visit => http://youtu.be/Zwm7MlUtDa0

Music video and arrangement may be copyrighted, used with implied
permission. Some of the lyrics and underlying music are (perhaps) still
under Copyright, and so are not shown here.


Notes
More about this song at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-heleadethme.html
More songs like this at => http://www.loveallpeople.org/christmusic.html
... and at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-indexpage.html

The Lord's Prayer
with MP3 audio file

The Lord, Himself, taught us to pray like this . . .


Play Prayer Here =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/lordsprayer2.mp3
Reading by Rev. Bill McGinnis - Public Domain


The Lord's Prayer


Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Source: Book Of Common Prayer, based on
Matthew 6:9-13


You can hear the Lord's Prayer on an MP3 file by clicking on
internetchurchofchrist.org/binaries/lordsprayer2.mp3. This MP3 file, and
the text on which it is based, are in the Public Domain, free for all
people to use without restriction. As always, permission is granted to
link to any of our files.

Bible Readings - Updated Automatically Each Day
New American Bible (with notes and links) -
http://www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml
Daily Light On The Daily Path -
http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/daily.light/
National Presbyterian Church (USA) -
http://www.natpresch.org/one_daily_reading.php

Declaration Of Faith
The Apostles' Creed
This historic affirmation of faith comes to us from the early centuries of
the Christian church.
MP3 audio file at
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/binaries/apostlescreed.mp3 - free,
Public Domain

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit;
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
The holy catholic church; *
The communion of saints;
The forgiveness of sins;
The resurrection of the body;
And the life everlasting.

Amen.


* Note: "catholic church" here means the entire body of
believers in Christ, not just one particular church.

Featured Segment . . .
Exhortation: "My Children, Love One Another!"
If you keep just this one commandment, it will suffice.
Exhortation: "My Children, Love One Another!"


"My Children, Love One Another!"


This item is not directly from Scripture, but it comes from a
trusted man of God, St. Jerome, whom God selected to compile the Latin
Vulgate Bible, which was the authoritative Christian Bible for the
world for many centuries.

It is a story about St. John, writer of the Fourth Gospel and the Book
of Revelation and the letters 1st, 2nd and 3rd John.

St. Jerome writes that during the last years of St. John's life, when
he was a very old man, he used always say the same thing to the
faithful: "My children, love one another!" On one occasion he was
asked why he insisted on this, to which he replied: "Because it is the
Lord's commandment, and if you keep just this commandment, it will
suffice." ("Comm. in Gal.", III, 6, 10).


Blessings to you in Jeus Christ our Lord.


The advertising above is served automatically by Google. It may be
theologically incorrect.

Poem - With audio reading plus music video
"All The Way My Saviour Leads Me," - by Fanny J. Crosby
ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOUR LEADS ME - by Fanny J. Crosby, 1875
- Public Domain -


All the way my Saviour leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His faithful mercies,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him do dwell;
For I know whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Saviour leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me strength for every trial,
Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo, a spring of joy I see.

All the way my Saviour leads me,
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised,
In my Father's house above;
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages:
"Jesus led me all the way."

MP3 audio reading of the poem at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/binaries/allthewaymysaviourleadsme.mp3
- free, Public Domain

More about this song at =>
"http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-allthewaymysaviourleadsme.html


Prayer For You
For The Special Thing You Want
NOTE: When you read this prayer, try to imagine hearing my voice as I
speak
it to you. In this way, the prayer is reactivated, and it is the same
as if I were actually praying for you at that moment.
(Just like television prayers are reactivated when you watch
them, although the videotape may have been shot years before.)

Perhaps there is a special thing you want,
A something you have had to do without,
And you are waiting for it to arrive.

* * *

I pray you will receive what you desire;
I pray it comes to you this very day;
I pray that it brings happiness to you.
I pray you keep it long as you may like.
In Jesus' name I pray for you, Amen.

by Rev. Bill McGinnis - Public Domain


See more prayers like this, at our Index of Prayers 4 You -
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/prayerindex.html

Please also see our related pages . . .

CHRISTIAN
ETHICS & HUMAN RELATIONS
POLITICS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Sitemap


Holy Communion
A ceremony for Holy Communion is available to you HERE! -
http://patriot.net/~bmcgin/pearl-holycommunion.html
If you are alone, you will needed to be both "Leader" and "Assembly," as
described in the ceremony.

How To Find A Real, Live Church
An online church is better than no church at all; but it is even better
for most Christians to actually belong to a real, live church, with real,
live people. Then, you can have your real church PLUS your online church,
so you gain the benefits of both. You can find a church for yourself by
clicking HERE! - http://patriot.net/~bmcgin/findachurch.html
Invitation To Accept Jesus Christ As Your Personal Lord And Saviour
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/jesusdirect.html
Closing Song
"Breathe On Me, Breath Of God"
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/breatheonme.html

More about this song at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-breatheonmebreathofgod.html
More songs like this at => http://www.loveallpeople.org/christmusic.html
... and at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-indexpage.html

Benediction

I pray the Lord that He will lead your path
Away from the temptations all around.
I pray that when temptation lingers near,
The Lord will lead you not into its reach.
But if temptation grabs you as you pass,
I pray the Lord that you will struggle free.
In Jesus' holy name I pray, Amen.

Blessings to you in Jesus Christ our Lord.
This chapel service is now complete.

Rev. Bill McGinnis

Pastor - http://InternetChurchOfChrist.org
Director - http://LoveAllPeople.org

You are invited to visit . . .
The home page for Internet Church Of Christ =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org
NEW from LoveAllPeople.org: eBooklets at => http://www.eBooklets.net
Free to download, copy, and distribute.=>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/ebooklets/introtoebooklets.html


You are invited to join . . .

Subscribe to INTERNET CHURCH OF CHRIST
Email:
Visit this group

The Internet Church Of Christ group at Google.com is at =>
http://groups.google.com/group/internetchurchofchrist

The Internet Church Of Christ group at Yahoo.com is at =>
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internetchurchofchrist


Rev. Bill McGinnis' main blog is at =>
http://revbillmcginnis.blogspot.com

Search all pages in The LoveAllPeople.org Network,
using the search box below . . .

http://www.loveallpeople.org/searchallpages.html

To support us, please visit the advertisers appearing on our pages . . .

NOTE: The advertising above is served automatically by Google and may be
theologically incorrect.

We are . . . http://InternetChurchOfChrist.org
A service of . . . http://LoveAllPeople.org
God's one law for all mankind: "Love All People As Yourself."

"Start Each Day The Positive Way," at Internet Daily Chapel - Christian
daily worship service and practical guide.
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/idc.html

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Internet Daily Chapel for Week Of October 23, 2011 - Featuring - "The Golden Rule (Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated) Is The Foundation Of Democracy" - plus much more.

Internet Daily Chapel for Week Of October 23, 2011

Featuring - "The Golden Rule (Treat Others As You Would Like To Be
Treated) Is The Foundation Of Democracy" - plus much more.

HTML HOME PAGES
The primary URL for this page is =>
http://internetchurchofchrist.org/idc102311.html
The latest edition of Internet Daily Chapel should always be at =>
http://internetchurchofchrist.org/idc.html

By Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org
Search our pages => http://loveallpeople.org/searchallpages.html


"Dear Lord: Please put the right thoughts in my mind, words in my
mouth, and actions
in my hands and feet, that I might please You best today. In Jesus'
name I pray, Amen."

NOTE: The advertising above is served automatically by Google and may be
theologically incorrect.
Worship Service, Featuring - "The Golden Rule (Treat Others As You Would
Like To Be Treated) Is The Foundation Of Democracy" - plus much more.

PRAYER TO UNITE THE VIEWERS OF THIS PAGE

Dear Lord, please let the viewers of this page
Unite with You this moment, at one time.
And let our worship please You, here and now.
In Jesus' holy name we pray, Amen.


To see the video at its source, please visit => Why We Worship Together -
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=F91FFMNU

Invocation - Inviting God To Be with Us

O Lord, we come together in Your name,
And as You promised, we know You are here.
AND SO WE WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS,
AND PRAY THAT YOU FIND PLEASURE HERE WITH US,
AS WE, YOUR LOVING CHILDREN WORSHIP YOU.

We now invite You to reveal Yourself,
And share with us Your presence, openly,

FOR YOU ARE EVERYTHING THAT WE DESIRE,
AND EVERYTHING WE HAVE, WE GIVE TO YOU.

In Jesus' holy name we pray, Amen.

If you are a new Christian, we invite you to visit our page at
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/newchristian.html

Welcome

Welcome to the online worship service at Internet Church Of Christ. Here
is a good place to worship our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. You are
invited and are welcome at any time. Blessings to you in Him.

Opening Song
"He Leadeth Me"


To see this video at YouTube, please visit => http://youtu.be/Zwm7MlUtDa0

Music video and arrangement may be copyrighted, used with implied
permission. Some of the lyrics and underlying music are (perhaps) still
under Copyright, and so are not shown here.


Notes
More about this song at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-heleadethme.html
More songs like this at => http://www.loveallpeople.org/christmusic.html
... and at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-indexpage.html

The Lord's Prayer
with MP3 audio file

The Lord, Himself, taught us to pray like this . . .


Play Prayer Here =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/lordsprayer2.mp3
Reading by Rev. Bill McGinnis - Public Domain


The Lord's Prayer


Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Source: Book Of Common Prayer, based on
Matthew 6:9-13


You can hear the Lord's Prayer on an MP3 file by clicking on
internetchurchofchrist.org/binaries/lordsprayer2.mp3. This MP3 file, and
the text on which it is based, are in the Public Domain, free for all
people to use without restriction. As always, permission is granted to
link to any of our files.

Bible Readings - Updated Automatically Each Day
New American Bible (with notes and links) -
http://www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml
Daily Light On The Daily Path -
http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/daily.light/
National Presbyterian Church (USA) -
http://www.natpresch.org/one_daily_reading.php

Declaration Of Faith
The Apostles' Creed
This historic affirmation of faith comes to us from the early centuries of
the Christian church.
MP3 audio file at
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/binaries/apostlescreed.mp3 - free,
Public Domain

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit;
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
The holy catholic church; *
The communion of saints;
The forgiveness of sins;
The resurrection of the body;
And the life everlasting.

Amen.


* Note: "catholic church" here means the entire body of
believers in Christ, not just one particular church.

Featured Segment . . .
"The Golden Rule Is The Foundation Of Democracy"
THE GOLDEN RULE IS THE FOUNDATION OF DEMOCRACY
The "Golden Rule" Is The Foundation Of Democracy
"Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated"


By Rev. Bill McGinnis, Pastor - InternetChurchOfChrist.org
Director - LoveAllPeople.org


THE GOLDEN RULE IS THE FOUNDATION OF DEMOCRACY

"Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated"


DEMOCRACY: literally, rule by the people: from the Greek "de" (people) and
"kratos" (rule).

Source: Britannica.com


The Golden Rule, "Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated," is the
foundation of Democracy, because the Golden Rule directs us to give the
same power to others as we would like to have for ourselves, namely, the
power to make decisions in matters affecting our lives. How much power?
The same as we have ourselves, and this leads immediately to the idea of
"one person, one vote," with all votes being of equal weight.
So, Democracy is the natural result of applying the Golden Rule to the
question: "What kind of government should we have?" Similarly, the Golden
Rule leads directly to the idea of equality of all people under the law.

When it is applied to Politics, the Golden Rule leads to policies which
create "The Greatest Good For The Greatest Number, With Basic Rights For
All." Thus, total good is maximized and none are denied their basic rights
in life. This is a perfect formula for happiness and social stability
anywhere!

For more about The Golden Rule, please visit . . .
http://www.CommitteeForTheGoldenRule.org

or, the same thing, http://www.patriot.net/users/bmcgin/golden.html


The advertising above is served automatically by Google. It may be
theologically incorrect.

Poem - With audio reading plus music video
"All The Way My Saviour Leads Me," - by Fanny J. Crosby
ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOUR LEADS ME - by Fanny J. Crosby, 1875
- Public Domain -


All the way my Saviour leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His faithful mercies,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him do dwell;
For I know whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Saviour leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me strength for every trial,
Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo, a spring of joy I see.

All the way my Saviour leads me,
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised,
In my Father's house above;
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages:
"Jesus led me all the way."

MP3 audio reading of the poem at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/binaries/allthewaymysaviourleadsme.mp3
- free, Public Domain

More about this song at =>
"http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-allthewaymysaviourleadsme.html


Prayer For You
For The Special Thing You Want
NOTE: When you read this prayer, try to imagine hearing my voice as I
speak
it to you. In this way, the prayer is reactivated, and it is the same
as if I were actually praying for you at that moment.
(Just like television prayers are reactivated when you watch
them, although the videotape may have been shot years before.)

Perhaps there is a special thing you want,
A something you have had to do without,
And you are waiting for it to arrive.

* * *

I pray you will receive what you desire;
I pray it comes to you this very day;
I pray that it brings happiness to you.
I pray you keep it long as you may like.
In Jesus' name I pray for you, Amen.

by Rev. Bill McGinnis - Public Domain


See more prayers like this, at our Index of Prayers 4 You -
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/prayerindex.html

Please also see our related pages . . .

CHRISTIAN
ETHICS & HUMAN RELATIONS
POLITICS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Sitemap


Holy Communion
A ceremony for Holy Communion is available to you HERE! -
http://patriot.net/~bmcgin/pearl-holycommunion.html
If you are alone, you will needed to be both "Leader" and "Assembly," as
described in the ceremony.

How To Find A Real, Live Church
An online church is better than no church at all; but it is even better
for most Christians to actually belong to a real, live church, with real,
live people. Then, you can have your real church PLUS your online church,
so you gain the benefits of both. You can find a church for yourself by
clicking HERE! - http://patriot.net/~bmcgin/findachurch.html
Invitation To Accept Jesus Christ As Your Personal Lord And Saviour
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/jesusdirect.html
Closing Song
"Breathe On Me, Breath Of God"
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/breatheonme.html

More about this song at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-breatheonmebreathofgod.html
More songs like this at => http://www.loveallpeople.org/christmusic.html
... and at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-indexpage.html

Benediction

I pray the Lord that He will lead your path
Away from the temptations all around.
I pray that when temptation lingers near,
The Lord will lead you not into its reach.
But if temptation grabs you as you pass,
I pray the Lord that you will struggle free.
In Jesus' holy name I pray, Amen.

Blessings to you in Jesus Christ our Lord.
This chapel service is now complete.

Rev. Bill McGinnis

Pastor - http://InternetChurchOfChrist.org
Director - http://LoveAllPeople.org

You are invited to visit . . .
The home page for Internet Church Of Christ =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org
NEW from LoveAllPeople.org: eBooklets at => http://www.eBooklets.net
Free to download, copy, and distribute.=>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/ebooklets/introtoebooklets.html


You are invited to join . . .

Subscribe to INTERNET CHURCH OF CHRIST
Email:
Visit this group

The Internet Church Of Christ group at Google.com is at =>
http://groups.google.com/group/internetchurchofchrist

The Internet Church Of Christ group at Yahoo.com is at =>
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/internetchurchofchrist


Rev. Bill McGinnis' main blog is at =>
http://revbillmcginnis.blogspot.com

Search all pages in The LoveAllPeople.org Network,
using the search box below . . .

http://www.loveallpeople.org/searchallpages.html

To support us, please visit the advertisers appearing on our pages . . .

NOTE: The advertising above is served automatically by Google and may be
theologically incorrect.

We are . . . http://InternetChurchOfChrist.org
A service of . . . http://LoveAllPeople.org
God's one law for all mankind: "Love All People As Yourself."

"Start Each Day The Positive Way," at Internet Daily Chapel - Christian
daily worship service and practical guide.
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/idc.html


###

Monday, October 17, 2011

Internet Daily Chapel for Week Of October 16, 2011, Featuring - "The Proper Role Of Governments In The World." - plus much more.

Internet Daily Chapel for Week Of October 16, 2011,
Featuring - "The Proper Role Of Governments In The World." - plus much
more.

HTML HOME PAGES
The primary URL for this page is =>
http://internetchurchofchrist.org/idc/idc101611.html
The latest edition of Internet Daily Chapel should always be at =>
http://internetchurchofchrist.org/idc/idc.html

By Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org
Search our pages => http://loveallpeople.org/searchallpages.html


"Dear Lord: Please put the right thoughts in my mind, words in my
mouth, and actions
in my hands and feet, that I might please You best today. In Jesus'
name I pray, Amen."

NOTE: The advertising above is served automatically by Google and may be
theologically incorrect.
Worship Service, Featuring - "The Proper Role Of Governments In The
World." - plus much more.

PRAYER TO UNITE THE VIEWERS OF THIS PAGE

Dear Lord, please let the viewers of this page
Unite with You this moment, at one time.
And let our worship please You, here and now.
In Jesus' holy name we pray, Amen.


To see the video at its source, please visit => Why We Worship Together -
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=F91FFMNU


Invocation - Inviting God To Be with Us

O Lord, we come together in Your name,
And as You promised, we know You are here.
AND SO WE WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS,
AND PRAY THAT YOU FIND PLEASURE HERE WITH US,
AS WE, YOUR LOVING CHILDREN WORSHIP YOU.

We now invite You to reveal Yourself,
And share with us Your presence, openly,

FOR YOU ARE EVERYTHING THAT WE DESIRE,
AND EVERYTHING WE HAVE, WE GIVE TO YOU.

In Jesus' holy name we pray, Amen.

If you are a new Christian, we invite you to visit our page at
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/newchristian.html


Welcome
Welcome to the online worship service at Internet Church Of Christ. Here
is a good place to worship our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. You are
invited and are welcome at any time. Blessings to you in Him.

Opening Song
"This Is My Father's World"
A Modern Version

To see this video at YouTube, please visit => http://youtu.be/byIpfEVxhs4
Music video and arrangement may be copyrighted, used with implied
permission. Some of the lyrics and underlying music are (perhaps) still
under Copyright, and so are not shown here.


Notes
More about this song at =>
"http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-thisismyfathersworld.html
A traditional version of this song, with MIDI music, is located at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/fathersworld.html
More songs like this at => http://www.loveallpeople.org/christmusic.html
... and at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-indexpage.html

The Lord's Prayer
with MP3 audio file

The Lord, Himself, taught us to pray like this . . .


Play Prayer Here =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/lordsprayer2.mp3
Reading by Rev. Bill McGinnis - Public Domain


The Lord's Prayer


Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Source: Book Of Common Prayer, based on
Matthew 6:9-13


You can hear the Lord's Prayer on an MP3 file by clicking on
internetchurchofchrist.org/binaries/lordsprayer2.mp3. This MP3 file, and
the text on which it is based, are in the Public Domain, free for all
people to use without restriction. As always, permission is granted to
link to any of our files.

Bible Readings - Updated Automatically Each Day
New American Bible (with notes and links) -
http://www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml
Daily Light On The Daily Path -
http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/daily.light/
National Presbyterian Church (USA) -
http://www.natpresch.org/one_daily_reading.php

Declaration Of Faith
The Apostles' Creed
This historic affirmation of faith comes to us from the early centuries of
the Christian church.
MP3 audio file at
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/binaries/apostlescreed.mp3 - free,
Public Domain

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit;
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell;
The third day he rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
The holy catholic church; *
The communion of saints;
The forgiveness of sins;
The resurrection of the body;
And the life everlasting.

Amen.


* Note: "catholic church" here means the entire body of
believers in Christ, not just one particular church.

Featured Segment . . . "The Proper Role Of Governments In The World."

LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENTS
Legitimate Governments are established and maintained by God for the
purpose of maximizing the happiness and well-being of the people within
their jurisdiction. The people should obey the laws and regulations of
their legitimate Government.

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.
For there is no power but of God: the powers that
be are ordained of God.

"Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth
the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall
receive to themselves damnation."

(Romans 13:1-2 KJV)

Does this means that we must always do whatever our Government wants us to
do, no matter what? No, it does not. Jesus says that we should give the
Government whatever rightly belongs to it. But we should give God whatever
rightly belongs to God. This proves that the government's rightful powers
over us are not unlimited.

"Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar
the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things
that are God's." (Matthew 22:21b KJV)


Moreover, God requires the Government to rule wisely and to do good, not
evil to the people. The Government is supposed to be "the minister of God
to thee for good."

"For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the
evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do
that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

"For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if
thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not
the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a
revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."

(Romans 13:3-4 KJV)


But what if the Government fails in its obligation to do good? What if it
does evil continuously? Then it loses its authority from God and becomes
illegitimate; and it should then be replaced with a better Government.
That is exactly what happened at the time of the American Revolution. The
Government of England was doing evil continuously to the American
colonists. Thus it needed to be replaced.
A legitimate Government will govern with the informed consent of its
people. Dictatorships which use force against the will of the people are
not legitimate; and they should be replaced. Governments which lie to
their people in order to obtain consent are not legitimate; and they
should be replaced. Just as Mankind is God's trustee for taking good care
of the Earth, so each Government is God's trustee for taking good care of
the people under its jurisdiction.

WITH POWER COMES RESPONSIBILITY

"With power, comes responsibility." We are responsible to God for our use
of whatever power He entrusts to us.
This is a true saying, supported by Scripture.

First, we know that all power belongs to God.

"Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power
belongs to God;" (Psalms 62:11 RSV)
1 CHRONICLES 29:11-12 (RSV)
_____________________________________________________________

11
Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the
glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is
in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the
kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
12
Both riches and honor come from thee, and thou rulest over
all. In thy hand are power and might; and in thy hand it
is to make great and to give strength to all.
_____________________________________________________________


Then we know that we are accountable to God for everything He entrusts to
us. This is the basic doctrine of Stewardship, as explained in the Parable
Of The Talents.
_____________________________________________________________

MATTHEW 25: 14-30 (RSV)
Parable Of The Talents
14
"For it will be as when a man going on a journey called
his servants and entrusted to them his property;
15
to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another
one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
16
He who had received the five talents went at once and
traded with them; and he made five talents more.
17
So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more.
18
But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the
ground and hid his master's money.
19
Now after a long time the master of those servants came
and settled accounts with them.
20
And he who had received the five talents came forward,
bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered
to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
21
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful
servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set
you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
22
And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying,
'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made
two talents more.'
23
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful
servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set
you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
24
He also who had received the one talent came forward,
saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping
where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not
winnow;
25
so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the
ground. Here you have what is yours.'
26
But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful
servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and
gather where I have not winnowed?
27
Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers,
and at my coming I should have received what was my own
with interest.
28
So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has
the ten talents.
29
For to every one who has will more be given, and he will
have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has
will be taken away.
30
And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness;
there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'
_____________________________________________________________

Finally, we know that if we know what is right, and fail to do it if it is
within our power, that is a sin. Such sins are known as "sins of
omission."
"Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for
him it is sin." (James 4:17 RSV)

Therefore we can correctly conclude that, "With Power, Comes
Resonsibility." We are responsible to God for our use of whatever power He
entrusts to us.

STEWARDSHIP OF THE EARTH
Mankind Has the Responsibility To Manage The Earth Properly For God
God Is Sole Creator And Rightful Owner Of The Earth And Everything In It
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
(Genesis 1:1 KJV)

"All things were made by him; and without him was not
anything made that was made." (John 1:3 KJV)

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that
are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created
by him, and for him:" (Colossians 1:16 KJV)

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:
for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are
and were created." (Revelation 4:11 KJV)

"And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it
was very good." (Genesis 1:31a KJV)

"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the
world, and they that dwell therein." (Psalms 24:1 KJV)

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and
create evil: I the Lord do all these things." (Isaiah 45:7
KJV)

" . . . whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine."
(Job 41:11 KJV)

" . . . for all the earth is mine." (Exodus 9:15 KJV)
"For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon
a thousand hills." (Psalms 50:10 KJV)

" . . . for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof."

(Psalms 50:12 KJV)
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God Gave Man The Power And Authority To Rule Over All The Earth
Genesis 1:26-31 (RSV)
[26] Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and
let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the
air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping
thing that creeps upon the earth."
[27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created
him; male and female he created them.

[28] And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and
multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the
fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing
that moves upon the earth."

[29] And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed
which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its
fruit; you shall have them for food.

[30] And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to
everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of
life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so.

[31] And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very
good. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

We Are Accountable To God For Our Management Of
Everything He Has Entrusted To Us Here On Earth
The More He Gives To Us, The More He Requires From Us
MATTHEW 25:14-30 (KJV) "The Parable Of The Talents"
NOTE: A "talent" was a sum of money
equal to about two years wages.

14
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into
a far country, who called his own servants, and
delivered unto them his goods.
15
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two,
and to another one; to every man according to his
several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16
Then he that had received the five talents went and
traded with the same, and made them other five
talents.
17
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained
other two.
18
But he that had received one went and digged in the
earth, and hid his lord's money.
19
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh,
and reckoneth with them.
20
And so he that had received five talents came and
brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou
deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have
gained beside them five talents more.
21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and
faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few
things, I will make thee ruler over many things:
enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22
He also that had received two talents came and said,
Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I
have gained two other talents beside them.
23
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful
servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I
will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou
into the joy of thy lord.
24
Then he which had received the one talent came and
said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man,
reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where
thou hast not strawed:
25
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the
earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26
His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and
slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I
sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the
exchangers, and then at my coming I should have
received mine own with usury.
28
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto
him which hath ten talents.
29
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he
shall have abundance: but from him that hath not
shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer
darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.

"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him
shall be much required:" (Luke 12:48b KJV)

DEMOCRATIC CAPITALISM: A SOCIO-ECONOMIC SYSTEM FOR AMERICA AND THE WORLD
"Democratic Capitalism" is the practical fusion of Capitalism and
Democracy, in which the free market productive benefits of Capitalism are
merged with the social justice benefits of Democracy, resulting in "the
greatest good for the greatest number, with basic rights for all."
In the USA, this fusion has grown up within a social/cultural environment
of common shared values, including: belief in certain human rights, among
which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; belief in the
political equality of all citizens; the right to own private property,
including real estate; the right to enter into contracts; various other
rights of personal freedom, including freedom of speech, freedom of
religion, and freedom of association; and recognition of a Divine Being,
who created mankind for His own purposes and Who gave all of these rights
to man, for the benefit of mankind.

Without these shared values -- or something very similar to them -- it
would be unreasonable to expect that Democratic Capitalism could succeed.

For more about Democracy, please see =>
http://www.lifeofgeorgewashington.org/supersearch-democracy.html
For more about Capitalism, please see =>
http://www.lifeofgeorgewashington.org/supersearch-capitalism.html

For more about Democratic Capitalism, please see =>
http://www.lifeofgeorgewashington.org/supersearch-democraticcapitalism.html


The Six Purposes Of The United States Government The six purposes of the
United States Government are clearly announced in the very first words of
the United States Constitution . . .

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect
Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the
general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves
and our Posterity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of
America."

Source: The Constitution Of The United States, shown at
http://www.loveallpeople.org/usconstitution.html
And these six purposes can be numbered (enumerated) like this . . .

1. To form a more perfect Union.
2. To establish Justice.
3. To insure domestic Tranquility.
4. To provide for the common defence.
5. To promote the general Welfare.
6. To secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.
Everything that the U.S. Government is authorized to do (at its
discretion) falls under one or more of these six enumerated purposes.
These six purposes are the very essence of the "original intent" of our
Founders.

The specific requirements for things that the U.S. Government MUST do are
spelled out in the various Articles and Amendments, which follow later,
after the six purposes are announced. For details, please see
http://www.loveallpeople.org/usconstitution.html .

The Need For Regulation Of Capitalism To Prevent Its Naturale Abuses

Capitalism and Democracy are compatible, as long as the Capitalists are
regulated carefully by the Democratically-elected Government so that the
Public interest is best served.


GOVERNMENT REGULATION IS A GOOD THING, A NECESSARY THING, TO KEEP
CORPORATIONS ON A LEASH, NOT RUNNING LOOSE IN PUBLIC, UNRESTRAINED BY
ANYTHING IN THEIR PERPETUAL QUEST FOR MAXIMUM PROFITS. THIS IS WHAT
GOVERNMENT IS FOR!
Unregulated profit-seeking corporations cannot be trusted to protect the
Public, because their main objective is to make profits, not to be a
do-gooder for the Public. Whenever profit-making conflicts with the Public
interest, profit-making wins! Thus they become Predators on the Public,
not Protectors of the Public.
This is not a radical idea, but an obvious fact, if you think about it.
Profit-seeking corporations exist to make a profit, and the more profit,
the better. Anything which increases profits is good for them; and
anything which decreases profits is bad. So they try to do whatever is
necessary to make profits. This is the essence of Laissez-faire
Capitalism: that profit-seeking corporations should be left alone to do
whatever they choose to do in order to make profits.


Employees get paid to help the company make a profit, not to be a
do-gooder for the general Public. Just suppose a local manager decided to
give away $1,000,000 of the company's money to build a playground for the
neighborhood children. "The kids need the playground!," he says. Unless
this playgound were part of some co-ordinated Public Relations effort,
intended ultimately to produce greater profit, the employee would probably
be fired, and replaced by someone with a better profit-making attitude.

Suppose an auto manufacturer had some kind of a safety problem, perhaps
gas tanks that sometimes exploded on impact. And suppose it would cost a
hundred million dollars to fix the problem, but it would only cost ten
million to let the problem continue, and pay off the victims who sued and
won. What do you suppose the company would do? It would let the problem
continue, of course! Deny that a problem exists, claim it was the user's
fault, and pay off damages only when forced to do so. These kinds of
decisions happen all the time. Why do you suppose the corporations are so
eager to get "Tort Reform?" To limit their payoffs for damages, of course!
So their profits aren't hurt so much! "To hell with the Public," they
think. "They should be more careful!"

And if the Management of a profit-seeking corporation ever did choose the
Public interest over a higher profit (unless it were forced to do so by
some kind of government regulation), then that corporation would be
violating its financial duty to its stockholders. And the stockholders
would be entitled to replace the do-gooder Management with a
profit-oriented Management.

UNREGULATED PROFIT-SEEKING CORPORATIONS HARM THE PUBLIC THESE FIVE WAYS

Unregulated profit-seeking corporations harm the public these five ways.
We are talking mainly about the larger, publicly-traded, profit-seeking
corporations like those whose stocks are traded on the stock exchanges.
But the same ideas can apply to any unregulated profit-seeking
corporation, even the smaller ones and the private ones.

We recognize that profit-seeking corporations can be a great force for
good in the world, creating and providing wonderful goods and services
that would be unavailable by any other means. But we also recognize that
if they are unregulated, they harm the public these five ways. An
unregulated corporation is like a loose elephant in your neighborhood. Who
can stop it from trampling over whatever it chooses?

1. NOT PAY TAXES -In order to maximize profits, they always seek to avoid
or minimize their taxes.

2. ELIMINATE COMPETION -In order to maximize profits, they always seek to
eliminate or control their competition.

3. CUT WAGES AND SALARIES - In order to maximize profits, they always seek
to reduce their labor costs.

4. DISREGARD THE ENVIRONMENT - In order to maximize profits, they always
seek to avoid all environmental restraints.

5. SELL DANGEROUS, HARMFUL PRODUCTS - In order to maximize profits, they
are tempted to sell dangerous or harmful products.


So what should we do? We need profit-seeking corporations because they are
very efficient and very innovative. They are quick to provide products and
services to fill needs, if the profit is there. They can do great things
very quickly. But they cannot be trusted to protect the Public, if it
hurts their profits to do so. And it is unreasonable to expect that they
should - unless they are somehow compelled to do it. But we cannot allow
them simply to run loose, like rampaging elephants, trampling down
whatever is in their path.

The answer is GOVERNMENT REGULATION! Yes, Government Regulation of
profit-seeking corporations. Reasonable regulations, applied fairly, so
that all the companies are in the same boat and nobody gets any special
advantage. This is not difficult to do, but it does require some effort.
And it requires going against the current right-wing Republican policies
of Laissez-faire Capitalism: that profit-seeking corporations should be
left alone to do whatever they choose to do in order to make profits.

Tipping The Balance Too Far To The Right, In Favor Of The Free-Market
Capitalists, Against The Public Interest
The inherent tensions between Capitalism and Democracy are not new. We
have faced them before, about a hundred years ago, and we resolved them
then, largely under leadership of President Theodore Roosevelt. But now
they have re-emerged in new forms, under the permissive,
look-the-other-way eye of the Republican party's Anti-regulation
extremists, who have tipped the balance too far to the right, in favor of
the unrestrained free-market Capitalists.
President Theodore Roosevelt wrote these words almost a hundred years ago,
They applied then, and they still apply today.


"I hold that a corporation does ill if it seeks profit in restricting
production and then by extorting high prices from the community by reason
of the scarcity of the product; through adulterating, lyingly advertising,
or over-driving the help; or replacing men workers with children; or by
rebates; or in any illegal or improper manner driving competitors out of
its way; or seeking to achieve monopoly by illegal or unethical treatment
of its competitors, or in any shape or way offending against the moral law
either in connection with the public or with its employees or with its
rivals. Any corporation which seeks its profit in such fashion is acting
badly. It is, in fact, a conspiracy against the public welfare which the
Government should use all its powers to suppress.

"If, on the other hand, a corporation seeks profit solely by increasing
its products through eliminating waste, improving its processes, utilizing
its by-products, installing better machines, raising wages in the effort
to secure more efficient help, introducing the principle of coperation and
mutual benefit, dealing fairly with labor unions, setting its face against
the underpayment of women and the employment of children; in a word,
treating the public fairly and its rivals fairly: then such a corporation
is behaving well. It is an instrumentality of civilization operating to
promote abundance by cheapening the cost of living so as to improve
conditions everywhere throughout the whole community."
Source: Autobiography of Theodore Roosevelt
Please see =>
http://www.lifeofgeorgewashington.org/supersearch-autobiographyoftheodoreroosevelt.html

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Poem - With audio reading plus music video
"All The Way My Saviour Leads Me," - by Fanny J. Crosby
ALL THE WAY MY SAVIOUR LEADS ME - by Fanny J. Crosby, 1875
- Public Domain -


All the way my Saviour leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His faithful mercies,
Who through life has been my guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him do dwell;
For I know whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Saviour leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me strength for every trial,
Feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo, a spring of joy I see.

All the way my Saviour leads me,
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised,
In my Father's house above;
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages:
"Jesus led me all the way."

MP3 audio reading of the poem at =>
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/binaries/allthewaymysaviourleadsme.mp3
- free, Public Domain

More about this song at =>
"http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/songsearch/songsearch-allthewaymysaviourleadsme.html


Prayer For You
Your Intellect Alone Is Not Enough
NOTE: When you read this prayer, try to imagine hearing my voice as I
speak
it to you. In this way, the prayer is reactivated, and it is the same
as if I were actually praying for you at that moment.
(Just like television prayers are reactivated when you watch
them, although the videotape may have been shot years before.)

"Your Intellect Alone Is Not Enough"

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine
own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5 KJV)


Your intellect alone is not enough
To guide you through this life you have on earth;
For many of the world's most brilliant men
Are lost, like drunkards stumbling through the night.

But once the Holy Spirit dwells in you,
He lights your path, illuminates the dark,
He gives you answers to your deepest quests,
Where intellect alone would surely fail.

And so I pray the Lord will dwell in you,
And let His holy presence guide your life.
Then if you ask your mind for its assent
Your mind will cheerfully affirm His truths.

In Jesus' name I pray for you, Amen.


by Rev. Bill McGinnis - Public Domain

See more prayers like this, at our Index of Prayers 4 You -
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/prayerindex.html

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ETHICS & HUMAN RELATIONS
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Holy Communion
A ceremony for Holy Communion is available to you HERE! -
http://patriot.net/~bmcgin/pearl-holycommunion.html
If you are alone, you will needed to be both "Leader" and "Assembly," as
described in the ceremony.

How To Find A Real, Live Church
An online church is better than no church at all; but it is even better
for most Christians to actually belong to a real, live church, with real,
live people. Then, you can have your real church PLUS your online church,
so you gain the benefits of both. You can find a church for yourself by
clicking HERE! - http://patriot.net/~bmcgin/findachurch.html
Invitation To Accept Jesus Christ As Your Personal Lord And Saviour
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/jesusdirect.html
Closing Song
"Breathe On Me, Breath Of God"
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/breatheonme.html

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Benediction

I pray the Lord that He will lead your path
Away from the temptations all around.
I pray that when temptation lingers near,
The Lord will lead you not into its reach.
But if temptation grabs you as you pass,
I pray the Lord that you will struggle free.
In Jesus' holy name I pray, Amen.

Blessings to you in Jesus Christ our Lord.
This chapel service is now complete.

Rev. Bill McGinnis

Pastor - http://InternetChurchOfChrist.org
Director - http://LoveAllPeople.org

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The Proper Role Of Governments In The World

The Proper Role Of Governments In The World
by Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org
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LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENTS

Legitimate Governments are established and maintained by God for the
purpose of maximizing the happiness and well-being of the people within
their jurisdiction. The people should obey the laws and regulations of
their legitimate Government.

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.
For there is no power but of God: the powers that
be are ordained of God.

"Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth
the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall
receive to themselves damnation."

(Romans 13:1-2 KJV)

Does this means that we must always do whatever our Government wants us to
do, no matter what? No, it does not. Jesus says that we should give the
Government whatever rightly belongs to it. But we should give God whatever
rightly belongs to God. This proves that the government's rightful powers
over us are not unlimited.

"Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar
the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things
that are God's." (Matthew 22:21b KJV)


Moreover, God requires the Government to rule wisely and to do good, not
evil to the people. The Government is supposed to be "the minister of God
to thee for good."

"For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the
evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do
that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

"For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if
thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not
the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a
revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."

(Romans 13:3-4 KJV)


But what if the Government fails in its obligation to do good? What if it
does evil continuously? Then it loses its authority from God and becomes
illegitimate; and it should then be replaced with a better Government.
That is exactly what happened at the time of the American Revolution. The
Government of England was doing evil continuously to the American
colonists. Thus it needed to be replaced.
A legitimate Government will govern with the informed consent of its
people. Dictatorships which use force against the will of the people are
not legitimate; and they should be replaced. Governments which lie to
their people in order to obtain consent are not legitimate; and they
should be replaced. Just as Mankind is God's trustee for taking good care
of the Earth, so each Government is God's trustee for taking good care of
the people under its jurisdiction.

WITH POWER COMES RESPONSIBILITY

"With power, comes responsibility." We are responsible to God for our use
of whatever power He entrusts to us.
This is a true saying, supported by Scripture.

First, we know that all power belongs to God.

"Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power
belongs to God;" (Psalms 62:11 RSV)
1 CHRONICLES 29:11-12 (RSV)
_____________________________________________________________

11
Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the
glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is
in the heavens and in the earth is thine; thine is the
kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
12
Both riches and honor come from thee, and thou rulest over
all. In thy hand are power and might; and in thy hand it
is to make great and to give strength to all.
_____________________________________________________________


Then we know that we are accountable to God for everything He entrusts to
us. This is the basic doctrine of Stewardship, as explained in the Parable
Of The Talents.
_____________________________________________________________

MATTHEW 25: 14-30 (RSV)
Parable Of The Talents
14
"For it will be as when a man going on a journey called
his servants and entrusted to them his property;
15
to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another
one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
16
He who had received the five talents went at once and
traded with them; and he made five talents more.
17
So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more.
18
But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the
ground and hid his master's money.
19
Now after a long time the master of those servants came
and settled accounts with them.
20
And he who had received the five talents came forward,
bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered
to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'
21
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful
servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set
you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
22
And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying,
'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made
two talents more.'
23
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful
servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set
you over much; enter into the joy of your master.'
24
He also who had received the one talent came forward,
saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping
where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not
winnow;
25
so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the
ground. Here you have what is yours.'
26
But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful
servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and
gather where I have not winnowed?
27
Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers,
and at my coming I should have received what was my own
with interest.
28
So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has
the ten talents.
29
For to every one who has will more be given, and he will
have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has
will be taken away.
30
And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness;
there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'
_____________________________________________________________

Finally, we know that if we know what is right, and fail to do it if it is
within our power, that is a sin. Such sins are known as "sins of
omission."
"Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for
him it is sin." (James 4:17 RSV)

Therefore we can correctly conclude that, "With Power, Comes
Resonsibility." We are responsible to God for our use of whatever power He
entrusts to us.
STEWARDSHIP OF THE EARTH
Mankind Has the Responsibility To Manage The Earth Properly For God
God Is Sole Creator And Rightful Owner Of The Earth And Everything In It
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
(Genesis 1:1 KJV)

"All things were made by him; and without him was not
anything made that was made." (John 1:3 KJV)

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that
are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created
by him, and for him:" (Colossians 1:16 KJV)

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:
for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are
and were created." (Revelation 4:11 KJV)

"And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it
was very good." (Genesis 1:31a KJV)

"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the
world, and they that dwell therein." (Psalms 24:1 KJV)

"I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and
create evil: I the Lord do all these things." (Isaiah 45:7
KJV)

" . . . whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine."
(Job 41:11 KJV)

" . . . for all the earth is mine." (Exodus 9:15 KJV)
"For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon
a thousand hills." (Psalms 50:10 KJV)

" . . . for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof."

(Psalms 50:12 KJV)
<><

God Gave Man The Power And Authority To Rule Over All The Earth
Genesis 1:26-31 (RSV)
[26] Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and
let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the
air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping
thing that creeps upon the earth."
[27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created
him; male and female he created them.

[28] And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and
multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the
fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing
that moves upon the earth."

[29] And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed
which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its
fruit; you shall have them for food.

[30] And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to
everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of
life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so.

[31] And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very
good. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

We Are Accountable To God For Our Management Of
Everything He Has Entrusted To Us Here On Earth
The More He Gives To Us, The More He Requires From Us
MATTHEW 25:14-30 (KJV) "The Parable Of The Talents"
NOTE: A "talent" was a sum of money
equal to about two years wages.

14
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into
a far country, who called his own servants, and
delivered unto them his goods.
15
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two,
and to another one; to every man according to his
several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16
Then he that had received the five talents went and
traded with the same, and made them other five
talents.
17
And likewise he that had received two, he also gained
other two.
18
But he that had received one went and digged in the
earth, and hid his lord's money.
19
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh,
and reckoneth with them.
20
And so he that had received five talents came and
brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou
deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have
gained beside them five talents more.
21
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and
faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few
things, I will make thee ruler over many things:
enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22
He also that had received two talents came and said,
Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I
have gained two other talents beside them.
23
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful
servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I
will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou
into the joy of thy lord.
24
Then he which had received the one talent came and
said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man,
reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where
thou hast not strawed:
25
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the
earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26
His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and
slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I
sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the
exchangers, and then at my coming I should have
received mine own with usury.
28
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto
him which hath ten talents.
29
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he
shall have abundance: but from him that hath not
shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer
darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.

"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him
shall be much required:" (Luke 12:48b KJV)

DEMOCRATIC CAPITALISM: A SOCIO-ECONOMIC SYSTEM FOR AMERICA AND THE WORLD
"Democratic Capitalism" is the practical fusion of Capitalism and
Democracy, in which the free market productive benefits of Capitalism are
merged with the social justice benefits of Democracy, resulting in "the
greatest good for the greatest number, with basic rights for all."
In the USA, this fusion has grown up within a social/cultural environment
of common shared values, including: belief in certain human rights, among
which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; belief in the
political equality of all citizens; the right to own private property,
including real estate; the right to enter into contracts; various other
rights of personal freedom, including freedom of speech, freedom of
religion, and freedom of association; and recognition of a Divine Being,
who created mankind for His own purposes and Who gave all of these rights
to man, for the benefit of mankind.

Without these shared values -- or something very similar to them -- it
would be unreasonable to expect that Democratic Capitalism could succeed.

For more about Democracy, please see =>
http://www.lifeofgeorgewashington.org/supersearch-democracy.html
For more about Capitalism, please see =>
http://www.lifeofgeorgewashington.org/supersearch-capitalism.html

For more about Democratic Capitalism, please see =>
http://www.lifeofgeorgewashington.org/supersearch-democraticcapitalism.html


The Six Purposes Of The United States Government The six purposes of the
United States Government are clearly announced in the very first words of
the United States Constitution . . .

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect
Union, establish
Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the
general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves
and our Posterity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of
America."

Source: The Constitution Of The United States, shown at
http://www.loveallpeople.org/usconstitution.html
And these six purposes can be numbered (enumerated) like this . . .

1. To form a more perfect Union.
2. To establish Justice.
3. To insure domestic Tranquility.
4. To provide for the common defence.
5. To promote the general Welfare.
6. To secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.
Everything that the U.S. Government is authorized to do (at its
discretion) falls under one or more of these six enumerated purposes.
These six purposes are the very essence of the "original intent" of our
Founders.

The specific requirements for things that the U.S. Government MUST do are
spelled out in the various Articles and Amendments, which follow later,
after the six purposes are announced. For details, please see
http://www.loveallpeople.org/usconstitution.html .

The Need For Regulation Of Capitalism To Prevent Its Naturale Abuses

Capitalism and Democracy are compatible, as long as the Capitalists are
regulated carefully by the Democratically-elected Government so that the
Public interest is best served.


GOVERNMENT REGULATION IS A GOOD THING, A NECESSARY THING, TO KEEP
CORPORATIONS ON A LEASH, NOT RUNNING LOOSE IN PUBLIC, UNRESTRAINED BY
ANYTHING IN THEIR PERPETUAL QUEST FOR MAXIMUM PROFITS. THIS IS WHAT
GOVERNMENT IS FOR!
Unregulated profit-seeking corporations cannot be trusted to protect the
Public, because their main objective is to make profits, not to be a
do-gooder for the Public. Whenever profit-making conflicts with the Public
interest, profit-making wins! Thus they become Predators on the Public,
not Protectors of the Public.
This is not a radical idea, but an obvious fact, if you think about it.
Profit-seeking corporations exist to make a profit, and the more profit,
the better. Anything which increases profits is good for them; and
anything which decreases profits is bad. So they try to do whatever is
necessary to make profits. This is the essence of Laissez-faire
Capitalism: that profit-seeking corporations should be left alone to do
whatever they choose to do in order to make profits.


Employees get paid to help the company make a profit, not to be a
do-gooder for the general Public. Just suppose a local manager decided to
give away $1,000,000 of the company's money to build a playground for the
neighborhood children. "The kids need the playground!," he says. Unless
this playgound were part of some co-ordinated Public Relations effort,
intended ultimately to produce greater profit, the employee would probably
be fired, and replaced by someone with a better profit-making attitude.

Suppose an auto manufacturer had some kind of a safety problem, perhaps
gas tanks that sometimes exploded on impact. And suppose it would cost a
hundred million dollars to fix the problem, but it would only cost ten
million to let the problem continue, and pay off the victims who sued and
won. What do you suppose the company would do? It would let the problem
continue, of course! Deny that a problem exists, claim it was the user's
fault, and pay off damages only when forced to do so. These kinds of
decisions happen all the time. Why do you suppose the corporations are so
eager to get "Tort Reform?" To limit their payoffs for damages, of course!
So their profits aren't hurt so much! "To hell with the Public," they
think. "They should be more careful!"

And if the Management of a profit-seeking corporation ever did choose the
Public interest over a higher profit (unless it were forced to do so by
some kind of government regulation), then that corporation would be
violating its financial duty to its stockholders. And the stockholders
would be entitled to replace the do-gooder Management with a
profit-oriented Management.

UNREGULATED PROFIT-SEEKING CORPORATIONS HARM THE PUBLIC THESE FIVE WAYS

Unregulated profit-seeking corporations harm the public these five ways.
We are talking mainly about the larger, publicly-traded, profit-seeking
corporations like those whose stocks are traded on the stock exchanges.
But the same ideas can apply to any unregulated profit-seeking
corporation, even the smaller ones and the private ones.

We recognize that profit-seeking corporations can be a great force for
good in the world, creating and providing wonderful goods and services
that would be unavailable by any other means. But we also recognize that
if they are unregulated, they harm the public these five ways. An
unregulated corporation is like a loose elephant in your neighborhood. Who
can stop it from trampling over whatever it chooses?

1. NOT PAY TAXES -In order to maximize profits, they always seek to avoid
or minimize their taxes.

2. ELIMINATE COMPETION -In order to maximize profits, they always seek to
eliminate or control their competition.

3. CUT WAGES AND SALARIES - In order to maximize profits, they always seek
to reduce their labor costs.

4. DISREGARD THE ENVIRONMENT - In order to maximize profits, they always
seek to avoid all environmental restraints.

5. SELL DANGEROUS, HARMFUL PRODUCTS - In order to maximize profits, they
are tempted to sell dangerous or harmful products.


So what should we do? We need profit-seeking corporations because they are
very efficient and very innovative. They are quick to provide products and
services to fill needs, if the profit is there. They can do great things
very quickly. But they cannot be trusted to protect the Public, if it
hurts their profits to do so. And it is unreasonable to expect that they
should - unless they are somehow compelled to do it. But we cannot allow
them simply to run loose, like rampaging elephants, trampling down
whatever is in their path.

The answer is GOVERNMENT REGULATION! Yes, Government Regulation of
profit-seeking corporations. Reasonable regulations, applied fairly, so
that all the companies are in the same boat and nobody gets any special
advantage. This is not difficult to do, but it does require some effort.
And it requires going against the current right-wing Republican policies
of Laissez-faire Capitalism: that profit-seeking corporations should be
left alone to do whatever they choose to do in order to make profits.

Tipping The Balance Too Far To The Right, In Favor Of The Free-Market
Capitalists, Against The Public Interest
The inherent tensions between Capitalism and Democracy are not new. We
have faced them before, about a hundred years ago, and we resolved them
then, largely under leadership of President Theodore Roosevelt. But now
they have re-emerged in new forms, under the permissive,
look-the-other-way eye of the Republican party's Anti-regulation
extremists, who have tipped the balance too far to the right, in favor of
the unrestrained free-market Capitalists.
President Theodore Roosevelt wrote these words almost a hundred years ago,
They applied then, and they still apply today.


"I hold that a corporation does ill if it seeks profit in restricting
production and then by extorting high prices from the community by reason
of the scarcity of the product; through adulterating, lyingly advertising,
or over-driving the help; or replacing men workers with children; or by
rebates; or in any illegal or improper manner driving competitors out of
its way; or seeking to achieve monopoly by illegal or unethical treatment
of its competitors, or in any shape or way offending against the moral law
either in connection with the public or with its employees or with its
rivals. Any corporation which seeks its profit in such fashion is acting
badly. It is, in fact, a conspiracy against the public welfare which the
Government should use all its powers to suppress.

"If, on the other hand, a corporation seeks profit solely by increasing
its products through eliminating waste, improving its processes, utilizing
its by-products, installing better machines, raising wages in the effort
to secure more efficient help, introducing the principle of coperation and
mutual benefit, dealing fairly with labor unions, setting its face against
the underpayment of women and the employment of children; in a word,
treating the public fairly and its rivals fairly: then such a corporation
is behaving well. It is an instrumentality of civilization operating to
promote abundance by cheapening the cost of living so as to improve
conditions everywhere throughout the whole community."
Source: Autobiography of Theodore Roosevelt
Please see =>
http://www.lifeofgeorgewashington.org/supersearch-autobiographyoftheodoreroosevelt.html


**************** Blessings to you. May God help us all.
Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org

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