First Principles: It Is Error Alone Which Needs the Support of Government. Truth Can Stand By Itself. Subject Opinion To Coercion: Whom Will You Make Your Inquisitors?

“It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself. Subject opinion to coercion: whom will you make your inquisitors?” – Thomas Jefferson (1781)

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Thought For the Day: A Cynical, Mercenary, Demagogic Press Will Produce In Time A People As Base As Itself. The Power To Mould the Future of the Republic Will Be In the Hands of the Journalists of Future Generations

“Our Republic and its press will rise or fall together. An able, disinterested, public-spirited press, with trained intelligence to know the right and courage to do it, can preserve that public virtue without which popular government is a sham and a mockery. A cynical, mercenary, demagogic press will produce in time a people as base as itself. The power to mould the future of the Republic will be in the hands of the journalists of future generations.” – Joseph Pulitzer

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Living Principled

Living Principled 
by Michael Doyle

Going to the cross, we give everything
Yet, in giving our all, we lose nothing
We hold to the truth in this dark hour
Blazing the light of Jesus as our power

We must step boldly as we share the light
We live as if beacons in this world's night
All that we live and everything that we do
Are testament to the living principles we hold true

The wings of angels above cut through the fire
But not the fire that burns from the inside
Our embers burn on and seem to never tire
Let our lights shine brightly and never hide

Applying the principles of the Bible brings new life
And in so doing, brings us peace and lessens strife
The earth is the Lord's as Heaven begins to speak
From its lowest places to the highest mountain peaks

The time has come to live our deepest beliefs boldly
Standing strong and doing right as it is told to me
Living up to our debt with the humility of gratitude
With God's love as our shield worn in our attitude

We are to live as to mirror God's holy truth
Lived best as a mission from our earliest youth
Taking our steps as part of our holy worship
And being forthright in keeping the right relationship

We must be faithful in all that we say, and we do
Faithful in the little and great that are equally true
It is in faithfulness that we win this earnest game
Serving the Lord God becomes our only claim to fame

We are called to be leaders in guiding the appetite
Of those around us, as is taught by God through His light
We should lead others, also, to do all those right things
And have the courage to stand bold in all and everything

We should be like the morsels that are mixed in
To bring goodness to life and reduce worldly sin
We do this by being the inspiration for others to see
And standing firm in our living and blessed theology

We must boldly stand out like this in this modern Babylon
Living for God in every step taken as our lives go on
And in so living, we must live within our God's holiest ways
This how we must live throughout our remaining days

And to the ways of evil, we must never betray God or bow
Into living in culture's window for the world somehow
The Lion of Judah living in us through every single breath
We were and are born to shine out light until our deaths

We are thankful in knowing our salvation, and we will walk bold
Doing these needed things in God's embrace as we have been told
We must live like modern day Daniels walking into the fire
Let us live the lives that will serve to boldly inspire

(c) April 10, 2024 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved

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First Principles: The Longer I Live, the More Convincing Proofs I See of This Truth, That God Governs In the Affairs of Men

“The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this Truth, that God governs in the Affairs of Men. And if a Sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid?” – Benjamin Franklin (1787)

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Thought For the Day: I Love You Without Knowing How, Or When, Or From Where. I Love You Simply, Without Problems Or Pride

“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.” –  Pablo Neruda, 100 Love Sonnets

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Totality and Doom

Totality and Doom
by Michael Doyle

Yesterday, the moon blotted out the sun
In the same way, it has frequently done
The people traveled from miles around
Hoping they would see something to astound

Their weary minds at least for a little while
Some came to be scared but most came to smile
Magical and familiar the sun shines most days
We gaze up at the sun and are comforted in ways

That seems to tap us on the shoulder like friends
As we watch it travel the skies to the earth's ends
Together, we sing songs that comfort the soul and spirit
If you listen closely, you are comforted to hear it

One thing that was odd about yesterday was the fear
A significant number were waiting for signs to appear
I was startled to hear it come from a pair of close lips
In the end, I was happy to say so much for the apocalypse

Doomsayers were certain the end was again nigh
Because of the totality of darkness in the sky
There was chaos in some corners of our internet
Speaking of troubles and blood moons we'd regret

Years of religious and cultural prophecies gone wrong
Should have taught us our faith needs to be proven strong
We should know that such predictions seldom come true
Even when that Devil's Comet manages to come into view

Apocalyptic thinkers find warnings like Gloucester in Lear
While conspiracies bloom and panic grows itself into fear
Dandelions of conspiracy are everywhere whatever you do
Resilient whispers refuse to die, though they're seldom true

Here we are waiting and watching the path of totality
Thinking on the bits and pieces that make up our reality
I hear the vibe from the crowd, and I think it's clever
It's the days like that will change our lives forever

(c) April 9, 2024 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved

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First Principles: From the Practice of the Purest Virtue, You May Be Assured You Will Derive the Most Sublime Comforts In Every Moment of Life, and In the Moment of Death

“Dependence begets subservience and venality, suffocates the germ of virtue, and prepares fit tools for the designs of ambition.” ― Thomas Jefferson

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Thought For the Day: Everything Considered, Work Is Less Boring Than Amusing Oneself

“Everything considered, work is less boring than amusing oneself. “– Charles Baudelaire, poet, critic, and translator (9 Apr 1821-1867)

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My Daily Bread

My Daily Bread
by Michael Doyle

I find my daily bread
In all His words said
Thankful that he paid the cost
Without which, I would be lost

From my cup of coffee
To all that's given me
I find myself thankful
For a life that is so wonderful

It's given freely and without desperation
My life is filled with God's inspiration
And I stand in ceaseless dedication
Knowing full well the source of my aspiration

Your name, sweet Jesus, is always on my mind
I feel as though I am at your side, never left behind
In these moments of your healing hour
I know the blessings of your holy power

Your love spreads in my life like wildfire
In your love, my soul soars higher
Doing these things as I have been told
I am amazed at your grace as my life unfolds

(c) April 8, 2024 Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved

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First Principles: The Stars of Heaven and Their Constellations Will Not Show Their Light. The Rising Sun Will Be Darkened and the Moon Will Not Give Its Light

“The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.” – Isaiah 13:10

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