day no. 16,025: whatever you like?

"I could if I liked."

"You mean you could if you chose."

"Where's the difference?'"

"All the difference in the world."

-- C.S. Lewis, The Pilgrim's Regress

The initial statement assumes an ability to do whatever we like, that we can do that which pleases us and that it's only our lack of like that keeps us from doing anything. But there are things we like that we cannot do and there are things we like that we do not do. We don't do everything we like; sometimes because we can't and other times because we shouldn't.

What you chose to do may not be what you like. It may not be driven by desire, but by duty. The intersections of desire, duty, and decision involve standards outside of any one of them in isolation. To determine what is best, you must consider more than mere desire or sheer duty.

We cannot do all we desire.

We do not do all our duties. 

What we shirk and what we seek must be determined by a standard outside of what our desires or duties would dictate.

day no. 16,024: ten generations downstream

"A tribe with 100,000 people in it is just ten generations downstream from one (marriage).” - Douglas Wilson, Liberty Redefined

Genesis 35:11

Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body."

Marriages can give birth to nations.

Generations of planted seeds can produce a people -- not merely more persons, but a people: a unified whole, connected by covenant and culture.

May God grant us such influence for His glory, the blessing of our descendants, and the good of our neighbors.

day no. 16,023: cheers

Proverbs 15:15

A cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Joy is a perpetual banquet. It's supply, never ending; it's quality, unmatched. It's the best of foods in the greatest of amounts. Nothing nourishes better than joy and nothing is more abundant than cheer.

Psalm 16:11

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Nehemiah 8:10

Eat the fat and drink the sweet... for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

day no. 16,022: we don't want nothin', not a thing from you

We don't want nothin',

not a thing from you

We're not gonna take it

Oh no, we ain't gonna take it

We're not gonna take it anymore

- Twisted Sister, We're Not Gonna Take It

The old-fashioned rebellion, exemplified here by Dee Snider's anthem, manifested itself in wanting to be left alone. It was a "live and let live" sort of rebellion against external standards. The new school rebellion, exemplified by snowflake cancel culture, wants to be waited upon. It insists upon being served and having its preferences codified in written codes that apply to everyone whether they like it or not.

The old school revolt didn't need anything from you other than your self-control to stay in your own lane. The new school revolt wants everything from you and expects you to drive it down whatever lane it currently desires.

Wanting to be left alone is more in the spirit of freedom than wanting everyone else to serve your particular preferences. Everyone doing their own thing without any interference is not Christian and could not sustain itself, but it's closer to liberty than the new school insistence that everyone do the one group's thing... or else. 

I never thought I'd long for a day for our rebels to be more like Twisted Sister, but I also never thought I'd see the day where dressing up like Twisted Sister would be considered "normal." They've taken the punk out of rock and made it mandatory. They've made men with make up into everyday heroes and regular men with beards into cutting edge outcasts. They've turned men with mascara into a sign of conformity and men with crew cuts into pariahs. 

When you outlaw masculinity only outlaws will be masculine. When you outlaw freedom only the outlaws will be free.

I don't want anything from anyone other than the opportunity to live in peace and quiet while pursuing my God. I don't need you to do anything for me to be able to do what I desire.

1 Timothy 2:1-3

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.

day no. 16,021: disobeying disobedience

"What do we suppose to have been the cause of the defeat and overthrow of the army of Israel with their king Saul? Does God chastise the people for the sins of the ruler? Is the child beaten instead of the father? It is hard to swallow, people say, to maintain that the children should bear the punishments due their fathers; the laws do not permit that anyone shall suffer for the wickedness of another. Now God forbid that the judge of all the world (said Abraham) should destroy the innocent with the guilty. On the contrary, says the Lord, as the life of the father, so the life of the son is in my hands; the fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers; every man shall be put to death for his own sin. (Deut. 24:16) That overthrow, then, happened because the people did not oppose Saul when he violated the law of God, but applauded that miserable ruler when he wickedly persecuted David and the priests of the Lord.” - Junius Brutus, Vindiciae Contra Tyrannos

Each dies for his own sins. Sons are not flogged for the sins of their fathers nor subjects subjected to punishment for the faults of their kings. So, when Israel fell while following Saul, it was not for Saul’s sins that they fell, but for their own. What was their sin? Failing to oppose the sins of Saul. Israel was struck down because they disobeyed God by refusing to disobey Saul’s disobedience of God.

day no. 16,020: bringing the thunder

1 Samuel 2:10

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.

God's adversaries will appear to be building impressive, solid, impenetrable structures when all of a sudden they will be reduced to impotent, scattered pieces. They may raise their voices and make what sounds to be deafening noises when all of a sudden they will be silenced and their shouts dwarfed by the thunder of Heaven's Word. They may appear to be getting away with everything when all of a sudden they will be judged as nothing. They may appear strong and secure in their seats, but they will fall to their knees in awe at His appearing. 

Fear not little flock, your Shepherd is not far off and His thunder follows hard after.

day no,. 16,019: dulce et decorum est

Hebrews 11:13-16

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

It is a delightful duty to live and die for the Fatherland.

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.