Unregulated Capitalism Harms The Country These Six Ways

By Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director – LoveAllPeople.org
Search our pages => http://loveallpeople.org/searchallpages.html
NOTE: HTML version of this message, with more links, is at http://www.loveallpeople.org/unregulatedcapitalism.html

BACKGROUND

Unregulated profit-seeking corporations cannot be trusted to protect the Public, because their main objective is to make profits, not to be a do-gooder for the Public. Whenever profit-making conflicts with the Public interest, profit-making wins! Thus they become Predators on the Public, not Protectors of the Public.

This is not a radical idea, but an obvious fact, if you think about it. Profit-seeking corporations exist to make a profit, and the more profit, the better. Anything which increases profits is good for them; and anything which decreases profits is bad. So they try to do whatever is necessary to make profits. This is the essence of Laissez-faire Capitalism: that profit-seeking corporations should be left alone to do whatever they choose to do in order to make profits.

Employees get paid to help the company make a profit, not to be a do-gooder for the general Public. Just suppose a local manager decided to give away $1,000,000 of the company’s money to build a playground for the neighborhood children. “The kids need the playground!,” he says. Unless this playgound were part of some co-ordinated Public Relations effort, intended ultimately to produce greater profit, the employee would probably be fired, and replaced by someone with a better profit-making attitude.

Suppose an auto manufacturer had some kind of a safety problem, perhaps gas tanks that sometimes exploded on impact. And suppose it would cost a hundred million dollars to fix the problem, but it would only cost ten million to let the problem continue, and pay off the victims who sued and won. What do you suppose the company would do? It would let the problem continue, of course! Deny that a problem exists, claim it was the user’s fault, and pay off damages only when forced to do so. These kinds of decisions happen all the time. Why do you suppose the corporations are so eager to get “Tort Reform?” To limit their payoffs for damages, of course! So their profits aren’t hurt so much! “To hell with the Public,” they think. “They should be more careful!”

And if the Management of a profit-seeking corporation ever did choose the Public interest over a higher profit (unless it were forced to do so by some kind of government regulation), then that corporation would be violating its financial duty to its stockholders. And the stockholders would be entitled to replace the do-gooder Management with a profit-oriented Management.

UNREGULATED CAPITALISM HARMS THE COUNTRY THESE SIX WAYS

We are talking mainly about the larger, publicly-traded, profit-seeking corporations like those whose stocks are traded on the stock exchanges. But the same ideas can apply to any unregulated profit-seeking corporation, even the smaller ones and the private ones.

We recognize that profit-seeking corporations can be a great force for good in the world, creating and providing wonderful goods and services that would be unavailable by any other means. But we also recognize that if they are unregulated, they harm the public these six ways. An unregulated corporation is like a loose elephant in your neighborhood. Who can stop it from trampling over whatever it chooses?

1. NOT PAY TAXES -In order to maximize profits, they always seek to avoid or minimize their taxes.

2. ELIMINATE COMPETITION -In order to maximize profits, they always seek to eliminate or control their competition.

3. CUT WAGES AND SALARIES – In order to maximize profits, they always seek to reduce their labor costs.

4. DISREGARD THE ENVIRONMENT – In order to maximize profits, they always seek to avoid all environmental restraints.

5. SELL DANGEROUS, HARMFUL PRODUCTS – In order to maximize profits, they are tempted to sell dangerous or harmful products.

6. CONTINUOUSLY SEEK GREATER PRIVATIZATION AND DEREGULATION – Pretending to be “efficient,” they transfer ownership and economic control from the Public to the Big Investors. And if Corporate Greed totally overwhelms their morality, who will protect the Public from their rampaging excesses?

Please also see “The Twin Frauds Of Privatization And Deregulation” at => http://www.loveallpeople.org/twinfrauds.html

SO WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

We need profit-seeking corporations because they are very efficient and very innovative. They are quick to provide products and services to fill needs, if the profit is there. They can do great things very quickly. But they cannot be trusted to protect the Public, if it hurts their profits to do so. And it is unreasonable to expect that they should – unless they are somehow compelled to do it. But we cannot allow them simply to run loose, like rampaging elephants, trampling down whatever is in their path.

The answer is GOVERNMENT REGULATION! Yes, Government Regulation of profit-seeking corporations. Reasonable regulations, applied fairly, so that all the companies are in the same boat and nobody gets any special advantage. This is not difficult to do, but it does require some effort. And it requires going against the current right-wing Republican policies of Laissez-faire Capitalism: that profit-seeking corporations should be left alone to do whatever they choose to do in order to make profits.
Blessings to you. May God help us all.

       Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director – LoveAllPeople.org

All of our original content on all of our web pages is in the Public Domain. You may link to these pages by any means you choose, including “framing.”

“Seeking The Greatest Good For The Greatest Number, With Basic Rights For All.”

   
For list of suggested searches, click => HERE!

To support us, please visit the advertisers appearing on our pages.
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A Service Of http://www.LoveAllPeople.org – Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director

HTML version of this page, with more active links, at =>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/comeupfromthefieldsfather.html
 
Reading by Rev. Bill McGinnis

Download Our Free, Legal, Public Domain “Speaking-Voice” MP3 file of this poem located at http://www.favoritereadings.com/comeupfromthefieldsfather2.mp3

 
Come up from the Fields, Father
Walt Whitman (1819-1892), Leaves of Grass, 1900.

1
COME up from the fields, father, here’s
  a letter from our Pete;  
And come to the front door, mother, here’s
   a letter from thy dear son.  
  
2
Lo, ’tis autumn;  
Lo, where the trees, deeper green,
  yellower and redder,  
Cool and sweeten Ohio’s villages, with
  leaves fluttering in the moderate wind;
Where apples ripe in the orchards hang,
  and grapes on the trellis’d vines;  
(Smell you the smell of the grapes on
  the vines?  
Smell you the buckwheat, where the bees
   were lately buzzing?)  
  
Above all, lo, the sky, so calm, so transparent
  after the rain, and with wondrous clouds;  
Below, too, all calm, all vital and beautiful,
  and the farm prospers well. 
  
3
Down in the fields all prospers well;  
But now from the fields come, father, come
   at the daughter’s call;  
And come to the entry, mother, to the front door
   come, right away.  
  
Fast as she can she hurries, something ominous,
  her steps trembling;  
She does not tarry to smoothe her hair, nor
   adjust her cap.  
  
Open the envelope quickly;  
O this is not our son’s writing, yet his name
   is sign’d;  
O a strange hand writes for our dear son. O stricken
  mother’s soul!  
All swims before her eyes,flashes with black,
  she catches the main words only;  
Sentences broken, “gun-shot wound in the breast,
   cavalry skirmish, taken to hospital, 
At present low, but will soon be better.”  
  
4
Ah, now, the single figure to me,  
Amid all teeming and wealthy Ohio, with all its
   cities and farms,  
Sickly white in the face, and dull in the head,
  very faint,  
By the jamb of a door leans.
  
“Grieve not so, dear mother,” (the just-grown
   daughter speaks through her sobs;  
The little sisters huddle around, speechless
 and dismay’d;)  
“See, dearest mother, the letter says Pete will
soon be better.”  
 
5
Alas, poor boy, he will never be better, (nor
   may-be needs to be better, that brave and simple soul;)  
While they stand at home at the door, he is dead already;
The only son is dead.  
  
But the mother needs to be better;  
She, with thin form, presently drest in black;  
By day her meals untouch’d, then at night fitfully
   sleeping, often waking,  
In the midnight waking, weeping, longing with one
  deep longing, 
O that she might withdraw unnoticed, silent from life,
  escape and withdraw,  
To follow, to seek, to be with her dear dead son.  
                            # # #
Provided by Rev. Bill McGinnis
Public Domain

Download Our Free, Legal, Public Domain “Speaking-Voice” MP3 file of this poem located at http://www.favoritereadings.com/comeupfromthefieldsfather2.mp3
Find more readings and more authors at our website => http://FavoriteReadings.com
Blessings to you. May God help us all.

       Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director – LoveAllPeople.org

All of our original content on all of our web pages is in the Public Domain. You may link to these pages by any means you choose, including “framing.”
Index of LoveAllPeople.org: – ETHICS & HUMAN RELATIONS – POLITICS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS – CHRISTIAN – AUTOMOTIVE – LAW & LEGAL SERVICES – HEALTH & FITNESS – PUBLISHING & CONSULTING – AFFILIATES & FEATURED PRODUCTS – SITE MAP – CONTACT LINK
“Seeking The Greatest Good For The Greatest Number, With Basic Rights For All.”

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using the search box below . . .
   
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Rev. Bill McGinnis has today released his “All-Purpose Agreement Form,” which is suitable for creating  simple legal agreements between any two persons, on any matter. This  easy-to-use legal form is completely free of charge and has been placed in the Public Domain, free for all people to use without restriction.

This legal form joins the other legal forms already released by Rev. Bill McGinnis, including a free automobile bill of sale, a free general bill of sale, a free personal loan agreement form, and others.

“Get it in writing, and avoid misunderstandings,” says McGinnis. “Too many people encounter  conflicts because the details of their agreements with others are assumed, but never written down. This new legal form can solve many of these problems.”

You can download the free All-Purpose Agreement Form at http://www.loveallpeople.org/allpurposeagreementform.html . This page also contains links to McGinnis’ other free legal forms.
                           ###

By Rev. Bill McGinnis, Pastor – InternetChurchOfChrist.org
Director – LoveAllPeople.org

   The HTML version of this message, with more links, is located at +>
   http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/establishingatheism.html

By Teaching Evolution As Unquestioned Truth, We Officially Deny That God Created Humans; And Thus We Establish Atheism, In Effect, As Our State Religion.

By denying God, we establish no-God, which is Atheism, in violation of the Constitution.

The Theory Of Evolution is, itself, a very powerful religious statement: namely, that God did not create human beings. And if God did not create human beings, then He could not possibly have created the Universe, because human beings are a part of the Universe. Then it becomes very easy to believe that He probably didn’t do anything else of importance, and that He probably doesn’t even really exist. This is pure Atheism! If we are not created by God, then there might as well be no God, for all the difference He makes.

So, by teaching the theory of evolution as unquestioned truth, we officially deny that God created humans; and thus we establish Atheism, in effect, as our State Religion, in violation of our Constitution.

Amendment I – “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Source: U. S. Constitution

It doesn’t really matter if evolution is true or not, as far as the Constitution is concerned. If we teach it as unquestioned truth, we are minimizing the importance of God and thereby promoting Atheism.

If the Constitution prohibits us from teaching that God did create humans, then it certainly must prohibit us from teaching that God did not create humans. If religious neutrality is required, then we must not teach evolution as unquestioned truth. If we do teach evolution as unquestioned truth, we are effectively establishing Atheism as our state religion, in violation of the First Amendment.

A United States Federal Court of Appeals has now ruled ruled that Atheism is, indeed, a religion, under U.S. law. See http://www.google.com/search?&q=atheism+religion+court+rule&btnG=Search for details.

So it is a very small step indeed from teaching evolution as unquestioned truth, to establishing Atheism as our official State Religion.

If we present Intelligent Design as a possible alternative to Atheistic Evolution, we avoid this Constitutional problem.
Blessings to you in Jesus Christ our Lord.
     Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director – LoveAllPeople.org

All of our original content on all of our pages is in the Public Domain. Webmasters: you may link to our pages by any means you choose, including “framing.”
Index of LoveAllPeople.org: – ETHICS & HUMAN RELATIONS – POLITICS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS – CHRISTIAN – AUTOMOTIVE – LAW & LEGAL SERVICES – HEALTH & FITNESS – PUBLISHING & CONSULTING – AFFILIATES & FEATURED PRODUCTS – SITE MAP – CONTACT LINK
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                    ###

By Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director LoveAllPeople.org

These ideas are now in the Public Domain.

NOTE: The html page of this message, with more links, is located at =>
http://www.loveallpeople.org/preventingandremovingicebuildups.html
February 1, 2009
During this past week, the national news has been filled with stories about ice storms and the serious damage they have caused. People have died and property has been destroyed because of these natural events which we cannot yet control. Although we cannot control the ice storms themselves, we may be somewhat able to control one of the worst effects which they cause: the build-ups of ice on trees and power lines, which frequently results in loss of electrical power.

Here are my suggestions, free for all people to use however they may please . . .

PREVENTING THE ICE BUILD-UPS

It is a fact of Nature that turbulent water will not freeze as quickly as still water will freeze. Depending on the degree of turbulence and other factors, the temperature must sometimes drop far below thirty-two degrees (F) before the water will freeze. Other things being equal, the greater the turbulence, the lower the temperature must be for freezing to occur. The movement of the water molecules inhibits the formation of ice crystals, and freezing of the water is thus retarded.

For more on this subject, please see => http://www.google.com/search?&q=freeze+moving+water

Given these facts, it is reasonable to conclude that ice buildups on trees and power lines during an ice storm could be retarded or totally prevented by somehow making the trees and power lines vibrate, perhaps at the same rate per second that normal electrical power is transmitted.

Here is one way we could accomplish this: Design and build “vibrator boxes,” each perhaps about one cubic foot in size, which would contain an electrical motor with a flywheel which is weighted so as to produce a vibration when it spins. Each vibrator box would be mounted on a tree or utility pole. The vibrations from the vibrator box would be transferred to the tree branches and power lines, and ice formation would be inhibited by the vibrations. Sensors would detect the combined presence of water and low temperature, and would turn on the vibrator motors automatically, as needed. Electrical power to operate the motors on power lines would be provided by the power lines themselves, directly connected to the motors.

REMOVING THE ICE BUILD-UPS

To remove any ice build-ups on trees and power lines, we could modify a “cherry picker truck” See => http://www.google.com/search?&q=%22cherry+picker%22&btnG=Search
similar to the photo below: 
http://www.patriot.net/users/bmcgin/cherrypicker.jpg.

We would replace the basket which normally carries the worker, with a large mechanical hand of some sort, connected to a jackhammer. The mechanical hand would then grab hold of the tree or utility pole, and the jackhammer would be turned on. The sharp strikes from the jackhammer would then knock the ice loose from the tree branches and power lines. The worker would control the operation of the boom, the mechanical hand, and the jackhammer, from below on the truck. The truck would be scheduled to go through the neighborboods, hammering trees and utility poles as needed, to remove the ice build-ups.

I hope these ideas may be helpful in some way.
 
Blessings to you. May God help us all.

       Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director – LoveAllPeople.org

All of our original content on all of our web pages is in the Public Domain. You may link to these pages by any means you choose, including “framing.”

We are http://LoveAllPeople.org

“My Prayers 4 You” – an index of  my prayers for you, at http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/prayerindex.html

“Helping People With Their Cars” at http://www.loveallpeople.org/billmcginnisautomotive.html

“Sitemap Of  The Web Pages At LoveAllPeople.org” at http://www.loveallpeople.org/chapellinks.html -

Yesterday I watched on live TV as the drama of US Airways Flight 1549 unfolded on the screen before me. MSNBC had come in to the story early, just at the point where an airplane had been spotted floating in the Hudson River, where it was normally not supposed to be. People were standing on the wings of the aircraft, where they were normally not supposed to be. And various boats were pulling up close, beginning to rescue people from the plane.
This scene was impossible to ignore, so I stayed glued to the television until it was clear that everything was under control. And here is what happened, as I now understand it . . .

A US Airways commercial airliner, with more than 150 people on board, had just taken off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport, when it unexpectedly encountered a flock of large-sized birds, reported to be Canada Geese. Some of the birds crashed into the engines, causing both engines to fail suddenly.

So then here was a large airplane, full of passengers and loaded with fuel, flying with no power, losing altitude over New York City, with thousands of buildings and millions of people below. It looks like a catastrophe beginning to happen. What can anybody do to stop it?

Well, as it happened, the Captain of that plane was Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger, III, perhaps the best-suited person in the world to be in command in this particular situation. As a veteran pilot, with an expert knowledge of Flight Safety Procedures and a strong sense of duty, Sullenberger also possessed the quick-thinking mind and calm, unflappable temperament needed to pull him through this huge crisis. With him was a well-trained, well-experienced flight crew, flying in a well-designed and well-maintained aircraft. Beneath him on the river was a willing fleet of boats nearby, ready and able to spring into action if needed.

Everything then came together perfectly. Sullenberger quickly evaluated the situation and considered his options. The available airports were too far away: he couldn’t reach them in time. There was no way he could try to land the plane on a highway: too crowded. There was no huge vacant field in sight, suitable for an emergency landing. Obviously he didn’t want to crash into the buildings below. But the Hudson River looked like a possible place to make a successful landing, if he did it just right. And there would be many boats nearby, to help with the rescue.

And he did it just right. He skillfully glided his aircraft into the proper position over the river. Then he gently descended to the river, allowing his forward speed to diminish at just the right rate to achieve touchdown at the lowest possible speed without losing lift and falling like a brick. Then he lowered the aircraft onto the river, with the tail section touching first, so as not to flip the plane over on its nose and rip open the fuselage.

The airplane hit the river at about 140 MPH, bounced twice, then came to a stop, floating and with fuselage intact. No smash-up; no explosion; no fire; nobody killed. So far, so good.

Now it was time for the flight crew and the passengers to do their part, by getting everybody out of the plane before it sank into the frigid water. Somehow, they successfully accomplished this task, with no chaos, no panic, no needless injuries.

And then the rescue boats started to arrive, pulling the grateful passengers on board and trying to warm them up from the frigid water and twenty-degree air. Official Coast Guard and Police boats mingled with private volunteer boats, all joining together in a heroic, successful rescue operation.

Final score: More than 150 people saved from death, with only one person seriously injured but expected to recover. Thousands of other people saved from the injury and death which could have easily happened if the plane had crashed into the city.

The Metaphor Of Flight 1549  And The USA In 2009

Some of us, who believe in “Signs And Wonders” in the Biblical sense, feel that it is no accident that such a vivid major event as Flight 1549 should occur only a few days before the momentous passing of Presidential power to Barack Obama on January 20th. We believe that the story of Flight 1549 can be seen as a metaphor — a representation of — The United States Of America in 2009.

In this metaphor, the present-day economic and political crisis in the USA is represented by the crises faced by Flight 1549, losing altitude over New York City. The United States itself is represented by the actual airplane involved, which almost perished but was saved from destruction and is now in need of repairs. The People of the United States are represented by the passengers aboard Flight 1549, who were saved by their outstanding Captain. President-elect Barack Obama is represented by Captain “Sully” Sullenberger, who skillfully commanded Flight 1549 to a safe emergency landing. The other members of the Obama Administration are represented by the other members of the Flight Crew. The Senate and The House of Representatives are represented by the official Coast Guard and Police rescue boats and their crews. And the millions of individual strong supporters of Barack Obama — people who are willing to work for him and his goals — are represented by the private boats and their crews.

And the metaphorical prediction for the United States goes like this:

President Barack Obama (Captain Sullenberger) will skillfully guide The United States and its people (the airplane and its passengers) through the present economic and political crisis to a safe landing. President Obama will be ably assisted by the other members of his administration (the Flight Crew), by Congress (the official rescue boats and their official crews), and by his millions of individual strong supporters (the private rescue boats and their crews.)
Blessings to you. May God help us all.

       Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director – LoveAllPeople.org
NOTE: HTML version of this message, with active links, is located at
http://www.loveallpeople.org/hopefulmetaphor.html

My web page for this video is located at http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/inthebleakmidwinter.html – and it also contains the lyrics to the song and a MIDI music file of it.

Sometimes it happens that an outstanding piece of music is performed live by a really good singer, who is having a very good day, in a friendly, compatible setting, with a good producer and a good mental attitude. And if this combination of events occurs, sometimes the result is a one-of-a-kind great music video performance.

That is what happened here with Corrinne May’s live performance of “In The Bleak Midwinter.” First, this a recognized outstanding  Christmas carol, well loved by the professional choirmaster types, as well as by audiences. Next, Corrinne May (whom I had never heard of before I stumbed onto her at Youtube.com) is a really good singer, who seemed to be having a very good day in a good setting with good technical support and a good mental attitude.

The result was this outstanding music video, which was inspiring and pleasing and uplifting to me, and I’m sure, to many who also have seen it. Her artistic interpretation of the piece was “right on,” and she has a pure and soothing voice I could listen to all day. Plus, she is great on the piano and good looking to watch.

I couldn’t help remembering that George Washington — father of our country — had a beautiful favorite granddaughter named Nelly Custis, who lived with him as a young woman at Mount Vernon, and frequently entertained his many guests with her excellent harpsichord playing and singing. I can well imagine Corrinne May singing and playing for George Washington and his guests, to the delight of all.

So far, this is my favorite music video of all I have seen this entire year. And I can recommend it to everyone who likes good singing and good Christian music. 

   Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director, LoveAllPeople.org

Welcome

Welcome to the Thanksgiving Week online worship service at Internet Church Of Christ. This is a good place to worship our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. You are invited and are welcome here at any time, Thanksgiving or not. Blessings to you in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Opening Hymn

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
MIDI file at http://www.patriot.net/users/bmcgin/comeyethankful.mid
MP3 file at http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/comeyethankful.mp3
Words by Henry Alford, 1844. Music by George J. Elvey, 1858. Public Domain. MIDI file is Public Domain, based on a Public domain MIDI file, tweaked by Rev. Bill McGinnis. MP3 file is Public Domain, made from the MIDI file, as shown.

Poetry reading by Sweet-Talk Girl, Public Domain,
at http://www.text-to-speech.org/comeyethankful-reading.mp3
 
(Read while you listen.) see media player on HTML page
        Come, ye thankful people, come;
        Raise the song of Harvest-home.
        All be safely gathered in
        Ere the winter storms begin;
        God, our Maker, doth provide
        For our wants to be supplied,
        Come to God’s own temple, come;
        Raise the song of Harvest-home.

        All the world is God’s own field,
        Fruit unto His praise to yield;
        Wheat and tares together sown,
        Unto joy or sorrow grown;
        First the blade and then the ear,
        Then the full corn shall appear.
        Lord of harvest, grant that we
        Wholesome grain and pure may be.

        For the Lord, our God, shall come
        And shall take His harvest home;
        From His field shall in that day
        All offences purge away;
        Give His angels charge at last
        In the fire the tares to cast,
        But the fruitful ears to store
        In His garner evermore.

        Even so, Lord, quickly come
        To Thy final Harvest-home;
        Gather Thou Thy people in,
        Free from sorrow, free from sin,
        There, forever purified,
        In Thy garner to abide.
        Come with all Thine angels, come,
        Raise the glorious Harvest-home.

        Amen.

HTML page of this song, with more links, at http://www.loveallpeople.org/comeyethankful.html
More like this at our website => http://www.Christmusic.ws

Invocation
Inviting the Lord To Be With Us Openly

   Let’s pray together now, to welcome the Lord to join us openly as we
   worship Him.
 
               O Lord, we come in thankfulness today,
               To praise You for the blessings You bestow.
               We gather in Your name to give our thanks
               For all the many gifts You do provide.
               Please be with us and join us here today,
               And let us know Your presence in our midst.
               In Jesus’ holy name we pray, Amen.
 
The Lord’s Prayer
MP3 digital audio file available at http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/lordsprayer.mp3
FREE. Public Domain. Reading by Sweet-Talk Girl (TM)

 
(Read while you listen.) see media player on HTML page
 

The Lord, Himself, taught us to pray like this . . .
                     The Lord’s Prayer
  

          Our Father, who art in heaven,
            hallowed be thy Name,
            thy kingdom come,
            thy will be done,
              on earth as it is in heaven.
          Give us this day our daily bread.
          And forgive us our trespasses,
            as we forgive those who trespass against us.
          And lead us not into temptation,
            but deliver us from evil.
          For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
            for ever and ever. Amen.

                      Source: Book Of Common Prayer, based on
                              Matthew 6:9-13   
                       *             *           *
         “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father
          will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their
          trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
          (Matthew 6:14-15 KJV)

         
                       *             *           *
         
Worship Poem
For The Beauty Of The Earth
MP3 poetry reading by Sweet-Talk Girl (TM)
located at http://www.text-to-speech.org/forthebeauty-reading.mp3 – Public Domain.

 
(Read while you listen.) – see media player on HTML page
 
FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH – by Folliott S. Pierpont, 1864
                               Public Domain
       For the beauty of the earth,
       For the glory of the skies;
       For the love which from our birth,
       Over and around us lies;
       Lord of all, to Thee we raise
       This, our hymn of grateful praise.

       For the wonder of each hour,
       Of the day and of the night;
       Hill and vale and tree and flow’r,
       Sun and moon, and stars of light;
       Lord of all, to Thee we raise
       This, our hymn of grateful praise.

       For the joy of ear and eye,
       For the heart and mind’s delight;
       For the mystic harmony,
       Linking sense to sound and sight;
       Lord of all, to Thee we raise
       This, our hymn of grateful praise.

       For the joy of human love,
       Brother, sister, parent, child;
       Friends on Earth and friends above,
       For all gentle thoughts and mild;
       Lord of all, to Thee we raise
       This, our hymn of grateful praise.

       For Thy church that evermore,
       Lifteth holy hands above;
       Off’ring up on ev’ry shore,
       Her pure sacrifice of love;
       Lord of all, to Thee we raise
       This, our hymn of grateful praise.

                                     Amen.

HTML page with MIDI music and full information at http://www.loveallpeople.org/forthebeauty.html
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Scriptures And Teachings: Thanksgiving Documents
George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation
[New York, 3 October 1789]

 
(Read while listening) – see media player on HTML page
 
By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor–and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be–That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks–for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed–for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted–for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions–to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually–to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord–To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go: Washington

Source: http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/thanksgiving/transcript.html

HTML page with more links located at http://www.loveallpeople.org/georgewashingtonsthanksgivingproclamation.html
Also see our George Washington website at http://www.lifeofgeorgewashington.org

The Mayflower Compact – 1620
Mayflower Compact 1620

Agreement Between the Settlers at New Plymouth : 1620
IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini; 1620.

Source: http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/amerdoc/mayflower.htm
HTML page with signatures, and more links located at http://www.loveallpeople.org/mayflowercompact.html

Thanksgiving Poem
“A Thanksgiving Poem,” By Paul Laurence Dunbar
Poem written in standard English, by Paul Laurence Dunbar, with MP3
Audio Reading by Rev. Bill McGinnis

 
(Read while you listen.)
MP3 reading at http://www.paullaurencedunbar.net/athanksgivingpoem.mp3
A THANKSGIVING POEM – see media player on HTML page
  The sun hath shed its kindly light,
    Our harvesting is gladly o’er
  Our fields have felt no killing blight,
    Our bins are filled with goodly store.

  From pestilence, fire, flood, and sword
    We have been spared by thy decree,
  And now with humble hearts, O Lord,
    We come to pay our thanks to thee.

  We feel that had our merits been
    The measure of thy gifts to us,
  We erring children, born of sin,
    Might not now be rejoicing thus.

  No deed of ours hath brought us grace;
    When thou were nigh our sight was dull,
  We hid in trembling from thy face,
    But thou, O God, wert merciful.

  Thy mighty hand o’er all the land
    Hath still been open to bestow
  Those blessings which our wants demand
    From heaven, whence all blessings flow.

  Thou hast, with ever watchful eye,
    Looked down on us with holy care,
  And from thy storehouse in the sky
    Hast scattered plenty everywhere.

  Then lift we up our songs of praise
    To thee, O Father, good and kind;
  To thee we consecrate our days;
    Be thine the temple of each mind.

  With incense sweet our thanks ascend;
    Before thy works our powers pall;
  Though we should strive years without end,
    We could not thank thee for them all.

 
                      # # #

Please also see separate HTML page at => http://www.paullaurencedunbar.net/athanksgivingpoem.html

Prayer For You
For Thankfulness – (If You Need It)

I pray that you are thankful in your heart
For all the many blessings God bestows.
He owes you nothing, yet he gives you life,
And lets you have the freedom that you crave.
You only hurt yourself by blaming Him
For all the problems that you have.
And Satan takes delight to see you frown
And rage against your Maker, Who provides,
If only you will recognize His love.
In Jesus’ name I pray for you, Amen.

by William McGinnis – Public Domain
Please see all our prayers for you at http://www.loveallpeople.org/prayerindex.html
       HTML version of this message, with latest updates, more links
       and more media players is located at =>
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Holy Communion
A ceremony for Holy Communion is available to you HERE! – http://patriot.net/~bmcgin/pearl-holycommunion.html
If you are alone, you will needed to be both “Leader” and “Assembly,” as described in the ceremony.

Closing Hymn
We Gather Together To Ask The Lord’s Blessing
Words translated by Theodore Baker, 1894. Music is a Dutch melody arranged by Edward Kremser, 1877. MIDI arrangement and sequence by Bill McGinnis. Everything here is Public Domain.
MIDI file located at http://patriot.net/users/bmcgin/kremser.mid p>

 
(Read while you listen.) – see media player on HTML page
 
WE GATHER TOGETHER – Netherlands folk hymn, translated by
Theodore Baker (1851-1934) – Public Domain
      We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
      He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
      The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
      Sing praises to His name: He forgets not his own.

      Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
      Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
      So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
      Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be Thine!

      We all do extol Thee, Thou leader triumphant,
      And pray that Thou still our defender wilt be.
      Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
      Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

                      <><
Also see separate HTML page at http://www.loveallpeople.org/wegathertogether.html

Benediction

As we complete our worship service today, I leave you with this blessing . . .

       EPHESIANS 3:14-21 (KJV)
      
      
        14
               For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord
               Jesus Christ,
        15
               Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
        16
               That he would grant you, according to the riches of his
               glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the
               inner man;
        17
               That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye,
               being rooted and grounded in love,
        18
               May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the
               breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
        19
               And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
               that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
        20
               Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above
               all that we ask or think, according to the power that
               worketh in us,
        21
               Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout
               all ages, world without end. Amen.

                                     <><
         

This worship service is now completed. Go in peace.
Rev. Bill McGinnis

ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
You can contact me at bmcgin@patriot.net. (Please mention “worship service” in the title line of your message, so I will be sure to see it.)

Please visit our home page at http://www.InternetChurchOfChrist.org

INTERNET CHURCH OF CHRIST
Our regular daily worship services are located at
http://www.InternetDailyChapel.org,
and each day’s updated worship service is located at
http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org/idc.html .

You are invited to visit and to join.

Blessings to you in Jesus Christ our Lord.

 Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director – LoveAllPeople.org

All of our original content on all of our pages is in the Public Domain.

We are http://www.internetchurchofchrist.org – a service of
  http://www.loveallpeople.org

                            ###

 
MP3 reading at http://www.paullaurencedunbar.net/sympathy-iknowwhythecagedbirdsings.mp3

HTML version of this page, with active links, at =>
 http://www.paullaurencedunbar.net/sympathy.html

SYMPATHY

  I know what the caged bird feels, alas!
    When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;
  When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,
  And the river flows like a stream of glass;
    When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,
  And the faint perfume from its chalice steals–
  I know what the caged bird feels!

  I know why the caged bird beats his wing
    Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;
  For he must fly back to his perch and cling
  When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;
    And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars
  And they pulse again with a keener sting–
  I know why he beats his wing!

  I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,
    When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,–
  When he beats his bars and he would be free;
  It is not a carol of joy or glee,
    But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core,
  But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings–
  I know why the caged bird sings!
                      # # #

. . . and here is a link to sixteen more readings of “Sympathy,” by very
talented readers => http://librivox.org/sympathy-by-paul-laurence-dunbar/
Home page
Biographical Timeline
Featured poems – With MP3 audio readings
Index of Titles
Index of First Lines
“Complete Poems” – One huge text file
Outside Links

HTML version of this page, with active links, at =>
 http://www.paullaurencedunbar.net/sympathy.html

 
http://www.paullaurencedunbar.net – a service of
  http://www.loveallpeople.org