First Principles: By Our Form of Government, the Christian Religion Is the Established Religion

Posted on January 30, 2025 by alohapromisesforever

“Religion is of general and public concern, and on its support depend, in great measure, the peace and good order of government, the safety and happiness of the people. By our form of government, the Christian religion is the established religion; and all sects and denominations of Christians are placed upon the same equal footing, and are equally entitled to protection in their religious liberty.” – Samuel Chase,  Runkel v. Winemiller (1799)

(It seems to go without saying that the principles of religious liberty has since this decision greatly expanded the doctrine of equal footing to other belief systems, too.)

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Thought For the Day: Creativity Is A Wild Mind and A Disciplined Eye

Posted on January 30, 2025 by alohapromisesforever

“Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.” – Dorothy Parker

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The Truth of Why We Fight

Posted on January 29, 2025 by alohapromisesforever 
The Truth of Why We Fight
by Michael Doyle

In different times
How might it end?
Could it have been
We might have been good friends?

Your job and mine
Here on the frontline
It's a killing job to be done
Yet, you are somebody's son

There is the truth of why we fight
Mostly, it hasn't been about wrong or right
It's more about doing as told
But doesn't this killing business get old?

A string quartet plays its shame
Good guys, bad guys; it's just a name
We clean the rubble out of the courtyard
As life becomes death and hits us hard

It's a heck of a way to die
Jumping into glory without the question why
Beware of enemy territory
At least that's the moral of my story

(c) January 29, 2025   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
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Happy Lunar New Year!

Posted on January 29, 2025 by alohapromisesforever

January 29, 2025, marks the new year for the lunar calendar for China and many other Asian nations. It is also referred to as the Spring Festival. This is the Year of the Snake. We have to love a tradition that celebrates the New Year for a month, right?

To be more precise, this is the Year of the Wood Snake. What does that mean? I am glad you asked this.

A cursory look at the 12 animals and their related elements suggests an emphasis on adaptability, diversity, and lateral growth. In this tradition, the Snake is a symbol of wisdom. What could be wiser than shedding old habits, embracing intuition above overthinking, and viewing change as the opportunity to evolve that it can be and is if we allow it to be so. The element Wood represents growth, much like any plant in Spring. The snake overall is linked with wisdom, mystery, introspection, and elegance. That seems to point to a very interesting year ahead. Doesn’t it? Come on and join me in this second celebration of the new year. Let’s make the most of it!

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First Principles: A Good Moral Character Is the First Essential In A Man

Posted on January 29, 2025 by alohapromisesforever

“[A] good moral character is the first essential in a man…It is therefore highly important that you should endeavor not only to be learned but virtuous. ” – George Washington (1790)

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Thought For the Day: Wealth and Rank Are What Man Desires, But Having Contentment Is the Greatest Wealth and Highest Rank

Posted on January 29, 2025 by alohapromisesforever

“Wealth and rank are what man desires, but having contentment is the greatest wealth and highest rank.” – Confucius 

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A Call For the Nation’s Unity

Posted on January 28, 2025 by alohapromisesforever 
A Call For the Nation's Unity
by Michael Doyle

For God's good satisfaction
Prayers must be followed by the right actions
This is true in our way of government
Especially if we are seeking after our improvement

We know we care for our family
We must, therefore, seek toward unity
Everywhere we look, we see adversity
Let us love one another with dignity

Seeking God's help in all we do
Solid foundations are needed for me and you
We must build our house on sand
If our nation is to continue to stand

All of us share an inherent dignity
Debate should be had to find common ground
This is the mandate from God's divinity
If a lasting peace is to be found

Our unity must be based on honesty
Truth is the unifier of our family
Speaking the truth must be had despite the costs
Steadying the storms through, we are tossed

If we want unity, we must embrace humility
To work together as people filled with possibility
The line that unifies is found centered in each heart
We have needed each other since our nation's start

Without unity, we build our houses on sand
It is with humility that we come to understand
All of life must be treated with mercy
If America is to be the shining light of history

(c) January 28, 2025   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved
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First Principles: We Must Consider That We Shall Be As A City Upon A Hill. The Eyes of All People Are Upon Us

Posted on January 28, 2025 by alohapromisesforever

“For we must consider that we shall be as a City upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. Soe that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause him to withdraw his present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword throughout the world.” – John Winthrop

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Thought For the Day: If There’s A Book You Really Want To Read, But It Hasn’t Been Written Yet, Then You Must Write It

Posted on January 28, 2025 by alohapromisesforever

“If there’s a book you really want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” – Toni Morrison

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To Know Love Actually

Posted on January 27, 2025 by alohapromisesforever 
To Know Love Actually
by Michael Doyle

I was just saying hello
When you started saying goodbye
I kept trying the best I know 
Being persistent in giving it my best try

Love can be and is so cruel
And I am inevitably its fool
Still, I know from beginning to end
You've been my best friend

I don't really know how it is factually
But I'd love to know love actually
It's all my flaws and egregious mistakes
That likely leads to all my heartbreaks

True love is the gift that keeps giving
It just takes a lot of forgiving
Real answers are hard to come by
Dark horses can't race, no matter how hard they try

Are we really just following the motions
As we end up faking our emotions
Are there words enough to say
Enough to get us through this day

I don't really know how it is factually
But I'd love to know love actually
It's all my flaws and egregious mistakes
That likely leads to all my heartbreaks

Love, it seems, can be total agony
When there's a million miles between you and me
There can be no worse sense of sorrow
Then, to know it will be no different tomorrow

We send our love across the text lines
With me wishing that you were really mine
Whether it's Christmas or close to Valentine's
I really wish you were truly mine

I don't really know how it is factually
But I'd love to know love actually
It's all my flaws and egregious mistakes
That likely leads to all my heartbreaks

(c) January 27, 2025   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved

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