Thoughts on (the preamble to) the constitution

We the People[1] of the United States of America, in Order to form[2] a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility[3], provide for the common defense[4], promote[5] the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty[6] to ourselves and our Posterity[7], do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Ok. I'm no lawyer nor legal counsel. It may be apparent that I'm not a public policy nerd. But, I did learn to read.

1. We the People -
First, let's notice who is RESPONSIBLE to insure, provide & create this stuff that our constitution proclaims. It's not the Government. It is not an elected official. It is WE THE PEOPLE of the United States. Us of the US. In other words, our forefathers (y'know... I used to think that meant four fathers... like the Mt. Rushmore... LOL.) ok, where was I...oh, yeah. Our forefathers had the intelligence to cause us to take on 2 things.

• Personal Responsibility:
  Being responsible for our own actions. In other words, we need to empower ourselves with the ABILITY to RESPOND in the light of our own choices.
• Being our brothers keeper:
  This is a bit more difficult to see. but you see it around #5 & 7... We're to consider the needs of others also. This means giving when necessary. Helping as possible. Becoming a unified country.

2. Form a more perfect union -
The operative word is FORM. It is a process that will not be completed - hence the word MORE perfect union. The way we form & shape a more perfect union is a 2 fold process.

• Working on ourselves
• Working on or in unity which means there's a give & take required

3. Insure domestic tranquility -
Why do our elected officials seem to be working doubly hard to polarize their constituents. Unity & tranquility go hand in hand.

4. Common defense -
Now, notice who is to provide the common defense... WE THE PEOPLE. We are to PROVIDE for our common DEFENSE.

5. Promote the general welfare:
First off, promote. Not provide! Promote. We as a nation PROMOTE the providing for those in need. Promote the activity of looking out for one another.

Again, looking out for each other. It doesn't say that the GOVERNMENT takes care of each other. But within a community, we should take care of those within our community. This will cause things to be more efficient & cause less waste through federal seepage.

6. Secure the blessings of liberty -
Doing what it takes to make sure that our freedom is continuous.

7. Our posterity -
Think about the generations after you. Not in the way that the politicians claim. I mean really continually knowing that it takes self sacrifice for today to make tomorrow brighter. Teaching future generations the same responsibility as well as allowing them to have some difficulties. Those difficulties didn't kill us... it won't kill them.

Spinning Plates, Juggling Bowling Balls

Y'ever get those days, weeks, months where you feel that your life has been an engine revving out of gear? That feeling of sitting at a stop light and somehow the shifter got knocked into neutral while you weren't looking... Or worse, the transmission goes out just as the light turns green and... YOU'RE OFF!... Then you get that momentary sinking feeling in your gut as the optical illusion of the cars going by you make you feel like you're going backwards?

What the heck am I doing? Why am I not moving? What am I doing wrong?

Sound familiar? Sometimes I'm so concerned with treating everyone fairly and right that I end up beating myself up over the possibility of being wrong. Focusing on being right rather than that one first love of mine: "That they might know you, the only true G_d & Messiah Yeshua who you have sent."

It's so easy to get this wierd focus on the completion of a chore, the execution of a project or the delivery of a final product. It's far too easy to measure myself based on income, profit or the satisfaction of a client. Continually critiquing myself in the harsh eyes of reality that i'm not perfect.

Everyone's eyes seem to turn into harsh, cold mirrors that reflect my every mistake and flaw. Frustration leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering... no, wait... that's yoda... you get the point.

When I get focused on my imperfections, limitations & insufficiencies, the gears slip and gas burns but nothing happens.

If I'm not careful, I just stop trying. Then there's those other condemning people who tell you that they have "never thought of quitting."

Yeah, right. That's just not human.

Well, today is another day. And today, I want to do the best Jesus impression I know how to do.

Maybe. Just possibly. Someone will get us confused and they'll see a little bit more of him than me today.

Goode Sayings:

"...it is impossible to meet G-d with sunglasses on."
-Bono

"If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space."
-Rick Godwin

"'I'm not here to be your friend, I'm here to make you effective."
-Rick Godwin

"F.A.R.T.: File it, Act on it, Refer it or Trash it."
-unknown

"Commit to victory."
-unknown

"What you Hear, you forget... What you See, you remember... What you Do, you understand."
-Coach K

"I do not fear the man who has practiced a thousand kicks one time; I fear the man who has practiced one kick a thousand times."
-Bruce Lee

"Develop your Strengths. Be aware of your Weaknesses."
-unknown

"'Tis better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."
-unknown

"Talk is cheap. Silence is golden. It's better without your two cents."
-unkown

"You can please everybody sometimes... You can please somebody everytime... But you can't please everybody everytime."
-unknown

"Don't worry. Be happy."
-Bobby McFerrin

"Think often. Decide quickly. Act promptly. Speak sparingly."
-unknown

You can find these quotes in Kyle's book No Excuses which can be bought at kmaynard.com.

"I didn't need to come up with fifty different moves if a series of five would work well enough to get the job done."

"No time devoted to relearning the basics is wasted time, because the basics are essential."

"... countless olympians have been forged off of three or four moves which they perfect."

Thanks for the inspiration, Kyle!
-pete

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask oursleves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our prescence automatically liberates others.”
-Marianne Williamson

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
-Yeshua Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

the sweetest revenge is forgiveness
-pg

Becoming debt free requires change in your heart & mind or else all you'll have left is change in your pocket.
-pg

if it ain't hard to do, it ain't worth the doin'.
-pg

Anything worth doin' is worth doin'.
-pg

Just Do It.™
-nike

If you ever see a guy walking down the road, you know the can of fix-a-flat didn't work for him.
-pg

"Forgiveness is a gift that means more to the giver than to the receiver."
-Andy Andrews, Island of Saints

smart is theory but intelligence is fact

live life til it's empty

you never really see a mirror.

a child is the measure of a parent

toupeés: hair today, gone tomorrow.

Say not. Do!
- pg

Even the blind can see the past.
- pg

I am a billionaire... my bank just hasn't realized it yet.
- pg

In action, we may choose wrong; however, inaction is always wrong.
- pg

Find the reality in humor, or find the humor in reality... it's your choice.
- pg

There is no technology greater than determination & will power.
- pg

It is impossible to do what you will not first attempt.
- pg

If words made men great, our insane asylums would lead our nation!
- pg

The greatest mistake: Allowing your mistake to determine your success.
- pg

Success is never achievable, only pursuable!
- pg

Laugh, and it's funny. Cry, and it's pathetic.
- pg

Train your eyes to see the possibilities... then there is no horizon.
- pg

High Schools fill children with wisdom, just ask them!
- pg

Fact: The US is a REPUBLIC, not a DEMOCRACY. Vote accordingly.
- pg

There is a currency greater than your money: your time.
- pg

"If you believe that your choices make no difference, you will make choices that make no difference. However, if you trust that your choices can make a difference, you can change the world."
- pg

"Everyone wants to start something... but few are willing to finish."
- pg

"Either we live by accident and die unexpected or we live on purpose and die in transit... it's a choice."
- pg

"Look on the bright side. At least you'll see what you're looking at."
- pg

it aint the size of the dog in the fight... it's the size of the fight in the dog...
- unknown

"What kind of world would this world be if everybody in it acted just like me?"
- Andy Andrews

"The greatest tragedy in life is not that man loses, but that he almost wins..."
- Andy Andrews

"If you think you can, you can; if you think you can't, you're right!"
- Mary Kay Ash

"Do, or do not. There is no 'try.'"
- Jedi Master Yoda

By Mom
Driving Lessons:
"You got to be careful in parking lots."

Behavior:
"Mind your manners."

House Renovations:
"Never bring a loaded gun into a house... unless you want new carpet."

By Dad
Driving Lessons:
"I've backed up more miles over one way bridges, steering with one knee, looking for a place to pee than you've driven forward in your whole life."

"You can go down the mountain, or you can go down the mountain. We fid'na go down the mountain."

"One of these days, you're going to run the tire off the road. Make sure you don't jerk the wheel."

"No cat or dog is worth wrecking your car and killing yourself over."

Caring for Others:
"I wouldn't trade you for Charlie Watts... but the thought has crossed my mind."

Thinking Before You Speak:
"Son, one of these days your mouth is going to get you in trouble."

Encouragement:
"You can do anything you set your mind to!"

Gun Safety:
"Treat every gun as if it were loaded."

"Most people are killed by 'unloaded' guns."

"Never bring a loaded gun into a house... unless you want new carpet."

Motorcycle Safety:
"Watch to whom you say 'Scooter Trash!'"

Relationships:
"Make sure she's got all her teeth & no tattoos."

"If you're gonna do it, might as well do it right the first time." (i.e. get Dad to weld it.)

Conflict Resolution:
"Shaw-tah-wah-buh! Pick out two!"

"One of these days, I'm gonna put a grey rock to your head."

Diet & Exercise:
"It's on my step one diet."