Searching for Equality
On this Fourth of July, Americans are striving for equality. The Bible reveals the true standard of equality.
Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/QVgH-dFnhGA
[Darris McNeely] “This week is the 4th of July in the United States, a national day of celebration of its independence. The Declaration of Independence was signed on or about July 4th. And it’s a remarkable document in all of history. Probably, the most quoted phrase is that we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. And that has been the ideal throughout American history of creating a society of equality for everyone. It has gone a long way. It’s not been perfect. And today there’s a great deal of discussion about what really would make this country equal for everybody. And some have a different ideology. Some want to go towards socialism, some want to just stay with capitalism. But it’s still a much-debated idea. What is it that makes everyone equal in the phrasing of the
Declaration of Independence is something to think about on this particular day, not just for Americans, but really for everyone.
There was a line from a book that I have often gone to, called “The History of the English Speaking Peoples.” It talks about the history of America and Britain, but it concludes after talking about all of the advancements and the achievements of these peoples throughout the last 200 or so years, and it makes a comment about the English speaking peoples, America, Britain, Australia, Canada, and others being what the author calls the last best hope for mankind. And that as history goes along and should things ever change, he makes this one comment about what these people stand for and I think it’s something to think about at this time. He says, “When the time finally comes to render up the report of their global stewardship and history, there will be much of which to boast and only when another power holds global sway will the human race come to mourn the passing of this most decent, honest, generous, fair-minded and self-sacrificing imperium,” speaking about the English speaking peoples.
And again, as we think about the national day of celebration of the 4th of July, what Thomas Jefferson wrote with the phrase, “All men are created equal,” I think that the best thing I could go back to is what we find in the book of Galatians, where the Apostle Paul wrote about true equality and let’s measure that up against any other human standard of government and our ideas. In Galatians 3:26, Paul writes that, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many as you have been baptized into Jesus, you have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
That’s the standard. That’s the gold standard for equality from a biblical perspective that Paul writes here. And then he says, “And if you are Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.” That’s the standard of equality.
There’s been no nation in all of history to come up to it. I think that what we might look at with the history of the English speaking peoples has brought a fair measure of prosperity and levels of equality for many people around the world through history. There’s a lot yet still to improve, and it’s only when mankind comes up to the standard of equality that God puts forth that there can be a true celebration.” From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/searching-for-equality
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Update
It’s been a busy week, because the sale of the houses looks like it will go through. Some of the closing paperwork was done on Wednesday, but I have to drive back there on Monday to do more, and get the check.
Chris and I went to Navasota to look at my apartment. It is under 600 sq.ft. but it has everything I need. It isn’t ready yet, they are replacing the carpet with woodgrain-looking vinyl, and painting the walls. But I can’t sell my carpet/upholstery cleaner yet as there will be rugs and furniture that will need cleaning. We measured the rooms and I transferred that to squared paper when I got home. Any of my furniture that won’t fit, I have taken pictures and listed on Craigslist. If it doesn’t sell before I have to empty the houses, there is a consignment place in Conroe.
Zack and I have dragged most of my stuff out of the front part of big house attic, got it down the stairs and into my van. Mostly fabric from when I was in the curtain making business, and then lots of picture frames from when I was making and collecting them. It was all donated to a good cause, just to get it out of the way. There are a lot more items in the back half of that attic, but it’s hot up there, even with the fans running.
Some things, like extra end tables and table lamps I have just put on the side of the road, and people are looking every day to see what I am putting at the curb. Now some stuff I am keeping to sell at the flea market in between Navasota and College Station.
Some of my larger power tools were given to an elder at the church who is a handyman whose tools were stolen. He needed the table saw and chop saw to make a living. I don’t want them any more because a man is buying the travel trailer that I was fixing up. Now I won’t have to fool with that.
I will have to find a corner in the apartment for the things that I think I need to hang onto for now, like my compressor for airing tires, my floor jack, shop vac, mechanic tools, in case I need them. But all the sanders, staplers, nail guns, sawsall, nails, screws, lumber, trim, plumbing parts, electrical parts, spray paint, wall paint, texture, Kilz, ladders, etc. can all go.
It is such a relief not having to fix anything any more. But there is so much stuff to move out of here in the next month, it is a daunting task. My granddaughter wants all my extra rolls of fencing and posts, and my son-in-law wants my collection of treated lumber, gutters and parts. It’s all gotta go.
Moving into a little senior apartment seems like there won’t be anything to do, but I’ll find plenty.
Because I had been so busy, I took a steamer and some store bought beef and chicken tamales to church for the potluck. Then we looked at the ingredients and there was LARD fat, and as you know, we don’t do pork. Nor does Joel Osteen, if you have ever watched that message of his. https://youtu.be/3UA9cPL0RXg So for once in all these years I made no food contribution to the potluck.
The Bible readings were Exo.25:1-40, Isa. 66;1,2, 1 Cor. 6:18-20, and all of Matt. 23. The Teaching was “The Holy Spirit Dwelling in The Believer”.
Trying to get everything out of these houses and storage sheds is going to keep everybody very busy for the next 30 days.
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