After receiving news of Steven's relapse, wrestling with the grief, having the hard talks and making the decisions I held my wife close and told her "I needed some " little things" to assure me again how much God cared". Many of you will recall the "chunky chicken noodle soup" experience, the "Duck Hunt", with Jeff Martin, meeting Micheal W. Smith (Smitty to Steven), Having another teenager arrive at Ronald McDonald House, a bus load of friends arriving in Memphis to celebrate Steven's 17th birthday, when Steven was in treatment 6 years ago. Those little things assured me that God heard our prayers and was faithful in meeting Steven's needs.
Amazingly, already, through people willing to reach out, I have been given some little things again. To hang on to... Buck Gardner's visit, Phone calls from friends, messages on Steven's guestbook, blessed assurance, so to speak. Thanks to all of you for being answers to our prayers, as described by a child..... "like Jesus..... with skin on"
Blessings,
Lyle
"What belongs on our Bucket List?"
Friday, September 26, 2008
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Cycle of Democracy
"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover they can vote themselves largess from the public treasury. "From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising them the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.
"The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence:
"From bondage to spiritual faith;
from spiritual faith to great courage;
from courage to liberty;
from liberty to abundance;
from abundance to selfishness;
from selfishness to apathy;
from apathy to dependence;
from dependency back again into bondage."
Dr. Alexander Tytler, a Scot professor, wrote a scholarly tome, from which this concept comes, called "The Athenian Republic" which was published shortly before the thirteen American colonies gained independence from Britain. "Google" him to learn more.
In publishing a handout on the "Cycle" in 1994 I noted that the national debt had reached a staggering $4.5 trillion dollars. Today (Oct. 1, '07) it is $9.06 trillion! Our forebears thought of debt as slavery. They would be shocked at what their descendants have done. - - John Wrisley.
"The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been 200 years. These nations have progressed through this sequence:
"From bondage to spiritual faith;
from spiritual faith to great courage;
from courage to liberty;
from liberty to abundance;
from abundance to selfishness;
from selfishness to apathy;
from apathy to dependence;
from dependency back again into bondage."
Dr. Alexander Tytler, a Scot professor, wrote a scholarly tome, from which this concept comes, called "The Athenian Republic" which was published shortly before the thirteen American colonies gained independence from Britain. "Google" him to learn more.
In publishing a handout on the "Cycle" in 1994 I noted that the national debt had reached a staggering $4.5 trillion dollars. Today (Oct. 1, '07) it is $9.06 trillion! Our forebears thought of debt as slavery. They would be shocked at what their descendants have done. - - John Wrisley.
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