Laurie Bluedorn's Blog, page 3
January 11, 2020
Free Soldier’s Pocket Bible
The Soldier’s Pocket Bible (also called Cromwell’s Soldier’s Bible) is a booklet that was first issued by Oliver Cromwell in 1643 during the English Civil War for the use of the Commonwealth Army. The little book consists of Bible passages (taken from The Geneva Bible[image error]), arranged topically, which might be of most help to a soldier. It was later re-issued in 1861 at the very beginning of the American Civil War — an exact reproduction of the 1643 edition. The quote on the title page, “Trust in the Lord and keep your powder dry,” was Oliver Cromwell’s famous battle cry to his troops.
This Soldier’s Pocket Bible was usually buttoned on the inside waistcoat, placed near the heart, and under the soldier’s outer coat. English Puritan Richard Baxter relates a story that the life of one of Cromwell’s soldiers was saved by his carrying a copy of the Soldier’s Pocket Bible near his heart. A bullet fired at him became lodged in the pamphlet instead of his heart.
This PDF consists of 4 – 8.5 X 11 pages which you can print out double-sided (making 2 pieces of paper printed on both sides). You can then cut the sheets width-wise and assemble to make a 16-page 4.25 X 5.5 folded booklet.
Download the Soldiers Pocket Bible
Post may contain affiliate links to materials I recommend. Read my full disclosure statement.
December 25, 2019
Pronunciation audio file for Greek Alphabetarion now free
The pronunciation audio file for the book A Greek Alphabetarion: A Primer for Teaching How to Read, Write & Pronounce Ancient & Biblical Greek by Harvey Bluedorn is now free to all. You can download it here.
December 13, 2019
To Impeach or not to Impeach — Could Our Constitutional Republic Recover?
To Impeach or not to Impeach — Could Our Constitutional Republic Recover?
December 13, 2019 — Harvey Bluedorn
There may be many things for which one may impeach a president, but the two articles of “obstruction of congress” and “abuse of power” are not among them.
Why?
First of all, because “obstruction of congress” is part of the president’s job description – it’s one of his duties. Each of the three branches of our federal government are assigned the duty of holding the others in check. In this case, “check” is another word for “obstruct.”
Furthermore, congress is assigned the duty of obstructing the president, and the courts are assigned the duty of obstructing congress and the president. We call this check and balance – the balance of power. It is the genius of our form of government.
When is it their duty to obstruct? It is when, to their judgment, they perceive an “abuse of power!”
And what is the constitutional remedy for abuse of power?
Congress is to legislate – it may censure, pass regulations, or otherwise check – obstruct – the power of the president. If the congress should go too far with that, abusing its own power, the president may appeal to the courts to check the power of congress.
Then when may congress impeach?
The constitution is an expressed powers document. The constitution explicitly states when congress has power to impeach. “Abuse of power” – or mismanagement – is not among them. The founders debated the matter, and excluded it for good reasons, not the least of which was in order to maintain the balance of powers. Power to impeach and remove over issues of executive mismanagement, in effect, transfers executive powers to the legislative branch.
One may find many things constitutionally impeachable, but to impeach for the causes of “obstruction of congress” and “abuse of power” amounts to a fundamental attack on the constitutional balance of power, because it attacks the constitutional powers of each branch to check – to obstruct – the abuses of power of the other two branches. This would amount to a fundamental overthrow of our republican form of government.
Therefore, if the House of Representatives proceeds to present these two articles of impeachment to the Senate, then either the appropriate committee of the Senate, or if that fails, the Supreme Court, must exercise its constitutional duty to check – to obstruct – this abuse of power by the House. Were these two articles to reach the point of being considered before the full Senate, this would cast upon these two articles a color or appearance of legitimacy, and regardless of the Senate’s verdict, the structure of the Constitution will have been fundamentally subverted. It is difficult to see just how our Constitutional Republic would recover.
In other words, though the Democrat controlled House may be the ones to deliver up the Constitution for crucifixion, it is the Republican controlled Senate which is in danger – no matter how unwittingly – of performing the deed.
December 11, 2019
Famous Hymns with Stories and Pictures
Famous Hymns with Stories and Pictures by Elizabeth Hubbard Bonsai (published in 1923)
Famous Hymns with Stories and Pictures includes numerous hymns along with the back story of the hymn and writer. Each hymn has the hymn itself printed with music as well as beautiful black and white illustrations.
Download and print a copy of Famous Hymns with Stories and Pictures here.
Special offer from Trivium Pursuit this week — seven free books
This week we are offering seven free Trivium Pursuit books if you invest in a Young Living Essential Oils Starter Kit. The kit costs $165 and includes:
–Desert Mist or Dewdrop Diffuser (there are several Premium Starter Kits to choose from)
–Premium Essential Oils Collection:
Lavender 5-ml
Peppermint Vitality™ 5-ml
Lemon Vitality™ 5-ml
Valor® 5-ml
Peace & Calming® 5-ml
Frankincense 5-ml
Thieves® Vitality™ 5-ml
Citrus Fresh™ Vitality 5-ml
Raven™ 5-ml
DiGize™ Vitality™ 5-ml
PanAway® 5-ml
Stress Away™ 5-ml
–2 AromaGlide™ Roller Fitment
–Thieves® Waterless Hand Purifier, 1 oz.
–Thieves® Spray, 1 oz.
–2 NingXia Red® 2-oz. samples
–“Essential Oils at a Glance” Brochure
–Product Guide
–Essential Oil Display Tray
–Young Living Lifestyle Booklet
–Essential Oils Magazine
–Essential Edge News
Choose your seven Trivium Pursuit books from this list:
Ancient History from Primary Sources: A Literary Timeline
Teaching the Trivium: Christian Homeschooling in a Classical Style
Handy English Encoder Decoder
A Greek Alphabetarion: A Primer for Teaching How to Read, Write & Pronounce Ancient & Biblical Greek
A Greek Hupogrammon: A Beginner’s Copybook for the Greek Alphabet with Pronunciations
What Do You See? A Child’s First Introduction to Art, Volume One, Two, and Three
Little Bitty Baby Learns Hebrew
Ancient Literature — 6 Volumes
Bless the Lord: The 103rd Psalm
Little Bitty Baby Learn Greek
My Mommy, My Teacher
The Lord Builds the House: The 127th Psalm
Go here for details.
U.S. addresses only, please, to receive the seven free books.
God and my soul possess each other
Archibald Brown
This God Is Our God
1896
The LORD’s portion is His people. Deuteronomy 32:9
The LORD is my portion, says my soul, therefore I hope in Him. Lamentations 3:24
The above two passages of Scripture ought never to be separated.
God and my soul possess each other.
God finds his portion in His people and His people find their portion in God.
This God is mine, in all His glorious perfection.
His heart is mine, for He loves me.
His ear is mine, for I may pour into it all my tales of sorrow, and all my songs of joy.
His eyes are mine, for they watch me from morning until night.
His hand is mine, for it is stretched out to uphold me.
Oh, He is a God of infinite glory. Abased in the very dust and half bewildered by the thought, I yet dare to look up and say, This God is my God forever and ever. He will be my guide even unto death.
Don’t watch this video — it’s just two old people talking
Don’t watch this video. It’s just two old people talking.
December 10, 2019
What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people
“For too long, a small group in our nation’s capitol has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered, but the jobs left and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories. Their triumphs have not been your triumphs. And while they celebrated in our nation’s capitol, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land. That all changes starting right here and right now because this moment is your moment, it belongs to you. What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people.” — Donald J. Trump, Inaugural Address, January 20, 2017
November 28, 2019
Fun and Frosty Freebie
Here’s a brand new and super cute resource from All About Learning Press.
Introducing the Snowman Pack!
What’s in the Snowman Pack?
This snowman-themed reading and spelling activity bundle includes:
–Snowman ABCs: a great way for preschoolers to gain pre-reading and beginning reading and spelling skills.
–Rhyming Snowmen: help the snowmen match pairs of rhyming words from All About Reading Levels 1-4.
–Snowman Word Search: practice reading and spelling skills with words from All About Spelling Levels 1-7.
–Build a Snowman: build your own “paper doll” snowman by mixing and matching snowman accessories.
–Enjoy a yummy Snowman Snack.
–Read a few Snowman Picture Books from our Library List.
All of these activities correlate with All About Reading and All About Spelling, but they can easily be used with any curriculum.
The First Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving! Take this day to be thankful for friends and family and don’t forget the first Thanksgiving only happened when the pilgrims rejected socialism. –Rand Paul
