CSN - LightWing Messages - Sunday - 1/22/2023
The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
“‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.
“‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God.
“‘When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the Lord, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up. If any of it is eaten on the third day, it is impure and will not be accepted. Whoever eats it will be held responsible because they have desecrated what is holy to the Lord; they must be cut off from their people.
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God. Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.
“‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.
“‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor.
“Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.
“‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord.
“‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
“‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people.
“‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.
“‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt.
“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
“‘Keep my decrees.’” Leviticus 19:1-19 (NIV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:33-48 (BSB)
Today is Lunar New Year’s Day. It is a day in which ⅙ of the world’s population celebrates the new year. It is also known as Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival. In the West, it is not a significant holiday as it is in Asia. But in China, and in most Asian nations, celebrating the Lunar New Year has a great significance. Tradition enables fifteen days of celebration, and many of the traditional celebrations contain symbolism for a new beginning on a deeper level than in the West, which is simply a transition from one year to the next, no matter what baggage is carried over into the following year. The ancient traditions of Chinese New Year are more symbolic of starting over, to begin the new year with a “clean slate” – even in human relationships. In one sense that is the purpose behind the making of “new year’s resolutions.”
The world just said goodbye to the solar year of 2022 a couple of weeks ago, and now a good segment of the world’s population will bid farewell to “the year of the tiger” and welcome “the year of the rabbit.” Indeed, 2022 seemed like a year in which we had a tiger by the tail, and we were not in control. However, according to the superstition, “the rabbit is the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac and symbolizes grace, beauty, mercy and good luck. Rabbits are also associated with the moon, because of the mythical Jade Rabbit who lives there.” The world certainly needs God’s grae and mercy in such a time as this.
Regardless of the beliefs, the people of the world have entered a new year, whether through the Lunar calendar or the Gregorian calendar established by Pope Gregory and the Catholic Church in 1582. And regardless of the calendar, time marches on. In the United States, we just finished an election year (kinda - sorta) which signifies the completion of one Congressional term and the beginning of a new one. To some degree, the outcome of the 2022 elections have brought hope for the future of an America aligned with the principles embedded in the foundation of the nation. Nevertheless, corruption and manipulation by elitists still are present, even in elections themselves. A key to a better new beginning is “We the People,” and we must not give up.
The central message in today’s edition is one I offer as an acknowledgement of Chinese New Year – not as an acknowledgement of China as a superior nation, or the CCP as a prominent or a superior governmental system. In fact, my acknowledgement is of the inherent value of the Chinese people – not the government. Just as our government is not representative of the best of our people, the CCP is not reflective or not representative of the best of the Chinese people.
My article today actually touches three connective points as the title indicates: Chinese New
Year, Confucius, and Benjamin Franklin. Hard to make the connection? Readers have to do the work of reading the message to determine how difficult it is for them to make the connection.
Right now, the world is in a state of upheaval – many peoples and nations are in a state of deep suffering or tribulation. It even seems as if the foundations of human civilization are being shook and changes are blowin’ in the wind. In America, as expressed in previous editions: “The harsh reality of America’s suffering now can be related to the suffering the Blacks could overcome through the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. ‘True change will not manifest unless citizens of faith muster that faith and stand once again for the principles and God-given rights that were established through the sacrifice of countless patriots throughout our history. It is our turn now.’ ” Indeed, this has been expressed here time and time again.
As always, we hope our readers would consider all the messages in this edition relevant or meaningful, and if readers know others who might value the messages as well, please consider becoming one of our official LightWing messengers and please pass this newsletter on to those whom you feel would welcome it. Or simply, please receive it yourselves.
We have also mentioned in several past editions that the LightWing Messages are now being discussed on our Zoom calls each Wednesday evening. We leave it up to you; if you would like to discuss today’s message more fully and learn more readily how to apply the message to real life, please take initiative and reach out. If readers are interested in receiving the Zoom link to the call, please send a brief email request to this address: d.jamzon@gmail.com
These words are being freely offered to you and are intended to shine light unto our paths, as it was written: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18 - KJV
May God bless all of our readers and all of their loved ones. May God bless America!
May we secure our inner humility, seek God’s Will for ourselves and our families, take responsibility for our ‘wickedness,’ or deviance from God’s Ways, and repent for wrong thinking and wrong actions that have taken us off the path of seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness. May we strive to get back upon the right path, if we’ve strayed.
Proof in Black & White: Linking Confucius, Chinese New Year, and Benjamin Franklin
By Dennis Jamison
1/22/23
Last January, in honor of Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, I posted an article in the LightWing Messages on “Ben Franklin, Confucius, and Chinese New Year.” On this Chinese New Year, I must address this topic one more time, as I now know more than I did last year, and some of it has to do with the exposure of the various Confucius Institutes on academic campuses as being covert propaganda outlets for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that has brought America so many types of evil in the 21st century, such as COVID-19 and all the Fentanyl addictions and deaths. But, there is a more key point in addressing the issue again.
The purpose of last year’s message was to repeat a nearly impossible task of showing a link between three points of focus: “Ben Franklin, Confucius, and Chinese New Year.” However, in this past year, two realizations were made through additional research, which prompts the need to post a correction of misinformation presented in that article. In last year’s article I wrote in a speculative manner: “While It is doubtful that Ben Franklin ever read any Confucian thought, a common thread of truth flows through each of these great men.” Nevertheless, there is now no doubt; Ben Franklin not only had read of Confucius, he studied it and printed some philosophy of the Chinese sage in his newspaper regarding the “morals of Confucius” in 1737: Benjamin Franklin Published Confucius' Work in 1737 In fact, several of the Founding Fathers studied Confucian thought, although it was not well known at the time, and even less known now. This is no more surprising than Chinese sailors exploring the American continent approximately 70 years before Columbus.
In this day and age, however, the American - Chinese connection has taken on a different twist. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is a formidable enemy to the United States and to the West overall, but if one can submit an honest appraisal, the CCP is a formidable enemy to the Chinese people. The proof of that is immeasurable.
Yet, despite the current need to disclose the harm that has been done by the “Trojan Horse” strategy of the CCP through the Confucian Institutes, this is not an article about the Confucius Institutes on American campuses. A mere acknowledgement is made here of nefarious bonds built by the CCP, or tentacles spread, as part of a two-fold approach of influence peddling and intelligence gathering. The problems have recently become well documented. One publication has amassed a great amount of such documentation and can be reviewed here: Managing Foreigners for China: The Confucius Institutes It is quite a revealing article; yet, the intent is to simply provide the link as a gateway for inquiry.
This article is about the relationship between Confucius and Ben Franklin in honor of Chinese New Year. And, despite personal ignorance of the more substantial connections between the two historical figures, the original observation made in last year’s article about connections between the moral teachings of both great men still holds true. And, it has only been proven and reinforced by extended personal research. Despite differences in time, language, and geographic location, Confucius and Franklin may have been able to celebrate Chinese New Year together as each are reflective of the goodness, possibly even the best, of each of their respective cultures. They each shaped their respective cultures in significant ways that their descendants should value.
The Asian tradition of celebrating the New Year originated more than 4,000 years ago, being regularly celebrated in China throughout this period of history despite the political upheavals and revolutions within China. Confucius lived and taught in China 500 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, at a time in which the Buddha was sharing his teachings with the people of India.
Chinese New Year today represents a combination of religious and secular rituals that have primarily stemmed from practices in Confucianism and Daoism, as well as Buddhism. It is now celebrated by roughly one-sixth of the world’s population. Yet, at the heart of the joyful
celebrations is the Asian family unit – especially in China.
In essence, Confucius perceived the key to a stable society by promoting the practice of making a harmonious family. At the base of each family unit was the individual:
When the personal life is cultivated, the family will be regulated; when the family is regulated, the state will be in order; and when the state is in order, there will be peace throughout the world. From the Son of Heaven down to the common people, all must regard cultivation of the personal life as the root or foundation.”
Confucius was trying to convey through his teachings that the cultivation of one’s personal life was linked to the foundation of a better world – even world peace.
For Confucius, each person should be guided to pursue what he referred to as “ren” (jen) in Chinese. According to Confucius, “ren” was “love of man,” or the love of humanity. This concept, according to Confucian philosophy, is a more natural love of one’s fellow human beings, which can be cultivated through proper education, and which is practiced differently with regard to different human relationships. For example Confucius referred to the cultivated feelings of filial piety towards one’s parents as “Xiao” (hsiao), and referred to the cultivated feeling of loyalty or the respect toward one’s superiors (lords, emperors, employers) as “Zhong” (chung).
The cultivation of ren, according to Confucius, was obtained through disciplined practice, and the ideal of morality, as well as the highest goal of education. The ancient Chinese master was clear in his teachings that the realization of ren came through the transformational process of the continual practice of “li,” or ritual or proper ceremony. In Confucian philosophy, “li” is able to be cultivated through the use of deliberate devices of the sages in their educational guidance. In very simple understanding, li is the practice of right behavior within society, or within the various relationships people have with one another.
Such concepts share a common premise with the pursuit of virtue that was a focus of the young Benjamin Franklin as he made it a public pursuit of 13 personal virtues. Franklin was born into a humble and large family on January 17, 1706. Not many Americans realize that Franklin got his initial start as an indentured servant. He started working as a printer in his brother’s print shop and newspaper in Boston. This foundation served as a basis for Franklin’s industriousness and provided a livelihood that served him well throughout his life.
He eventually outgrew his early beginnings and stuck his nose into many pursuits. He literally became a colonial Renaissance Man. He became an entrepreneur and a businessman, a meteorologist, a scientist and inventor, a musician, a librarian, a humorist, an economist, a philanthropist, a philosopher, and a diplomat and statesman. Historian Walter Isaacson wrote an exhaustive biography of Benjamin Franklin that was published in 2003. To Isaacson, Franklin stood out as “the most accomplished American of his age and the most influential in inventing the type of society America would become.”
Amazingly, during the time of such an incredible career, he never lost pride in his working-class roots, nor his desire for freedom. He served his people and his country as a determined patriot for most of his adult life. Even at 81 years of age, one of his last official duties, and one most important, was to provide concluding remarks at the Constitutional Convention to urge the delegates to sign the document giving birth to the new nation. Franklin had grown increasingly wise with age, but, even while still young, he initiated an endeavor to perfect his character in pursuit of moral virtue. One could wonder, what kind of nation would America become if all of us would pursue the individual perfection of virtue.
Such a pursuit would represent the highest endeavors of humanity across the world. Such a pursuit of virtue should be a universal inclination as it makes logical sense. It made sense to some of the Founders of the Land of the Free. In Franklin’s day, many of the founders viewed the phrase, “pursuit of happiness,'' in Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, to be the pursuit of personal and civic virtue. It did not translate into the pursuit of personal pleasure or advancing pervasive political power at the expense of others. Yet, that is how it is interpreted in contemporary America. Many of the Founding Fathers were aware of the concept in Greek Classics that the pursuit of happiness consisted of the pursuit of virtue. And now, it is more clear that they were also aware of Confucian moral standards.
At the heart of each of these respective philosophies is a key to make the world a better place. In the realm of ideas and ideals there should not be that much distance or division between the two blueprints to make the world a better place. The first step is making oneself a better person, and the second is having a proper standard or order of relationship within each family. However, many in the world would think that is too simple – even too naive. Yet, isn’t that what God had in mind when bestowed the three blessings upon Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden?
Eliminating the differences in the time of history and geographic locations, it is likely that had Franklin met Confucius on a street in Philadelphia in the late 1700s, they may have had quite a discussion about Chinese New Year, the pursuit of virtue, and making the world a better place.
As Americans have a second chance to initiate yet another New Year, it is good to know that formal Chinese New Year’s celebrations take place over a fifteen day period. So, those fifteen days of a new year allow for plenty of time to make brand new “New Year’s resolutions,” to be more serious to begin a personal pursuit of virtue, and the practice of ren. That would be a much more worthy endeavor than focusing on weight loss, or worshiping a silly rabbit!
Onward and Upward!
From YouTube: Blowing in the wind by Peter, Paul and Mary - posted 10/20/2021
From Liberty University: Diamond and Silk - Liberty University Convocation – 3/2/2018
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From YouTube Rascal Flatts: My wish for you ~ by Rascal Flatts with lyrics - 12/27/09
From Troy Black: This Ancient Goddess Is Back (she's even hiding in the church) - Jonathan Cahn – 1/17/2023
From Enni Francis: Goodness of God (Cover) | Enni and Kanaan. - 1/18/22
From World Outreach Church: Cultural Ignorance: A Spiritual Problem | Allen Jackson Ministries
– 1/18/2023
From The Lord's Quartet Music: BE THOU MY VISION - 6/20/2021
From Dr. Preston Moon: Raising Peacebuilders #shorts – 1/27/2022
From Bits of Knowledge: Don't let the "Spirit Of Cain" in you! - Dr. Jordan Peterson! – 1/12/2023
From Nature 18 Update: New England Completely Paralyzed || New Record Winter Storm In New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont – 1/21/2023
Podcast - From Dutch Sheets Ministries: Agreeing with the Voice of God | Give Him 15: Daily Prayer with Dutch | January 13, 2023
Podcast - From The Lance Wallnau Show: ANSWERED PRAYER: Supreme Court Brings 10 Commandments Back To School – 1/11/2023
From The Academy of Ideas: Disconnected from Reality: How Smartphones and Social Media Promote a Schizophrenic-Like Condition – 1/5/2023
From The American Minute with Bill Federer: Sanctity of Life "The greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion"-Mother Teresa; "Pro-Life is Pro Science"-Gary Bauer – 1/20/2023
Recommended Reading…
From Christianity Today: How to Cultivate a Deeper Relationship With God - 1/9/23
From Mario Murillo Ministries: MARIO, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? – 1/17/2023
From The Christian Post: Decline in church attendance drove deaths of despair among middle-aged white population: study - 1/19/23
From The U. S. Founders and China: 557. Benjamin Franklin Published Confucius' Work in 1737 - posted 3/24/2019
From The Association for Asian Studies: The US Founders and China: The Origins of Chinese Cultural Influence on the United States -
From Reset DOC: History: Benjamin Franklin and Chinese Civilization | Reset DOC
From The Benjamin Franklin Historical Society: Pennsylvania Gazette
ICYMI > From Kingdom Winds: If You're Unsure Whether it's God's Voice – 1/14/2023
What affects one, can affect all!
* News From The Growing Free Union -
From Washington Examiner: About those 'misplaced' classified documents … – 1/20/2023
From FOX Business News: Biden classified docs were sent to DC Chinatown facility before thinktank: Report – 1/22/2023
From Facts Matter with Roman Balmakov: State Is in SHOCK as 88% of Counties REBEL, Refuse to Enforce Ban on Guns – 1/18/2023
From American Wire: Actor Rob Schneider puts country before career to speak against government mess: If enough people will just say, ‘enough of this – 1/15/2023
From Canada Free Press by Judy McLeod: Democrats Sinking America in Their Devious Web of Lies – 1/16/2023
ICYMI > From Dinesh D’Souza: Dinesh D'Souza Expertly Defends The Constitution And Religious Freedom In Heated Debate – 1/13/2023
ICYMI > From The Victory Channel - FlashPoint: The Biden Disaster & Turning Tide! John Rich, Kevin Sorbo, Eric Metaxes – 1/13/2023
* News From the States –
News From Arkansas -
From Jeffrey Rickman and PlainSpoken: Arkansas United Methodist Churches Blocked From Leaving Denomination – 1/16/2023
News From California -
From The Christian Post: Jeremy Lin announces he's been married for 2 years: 'Finally sharing this beautiful day' – 1/19/2023
Review > From KCBS Radio: Santa Clara County might make the move to ranked choice voting - Phil Matier - Omny.fm – 1/3/2023
News From Delaware -
From ABC-WLS-TV Chicago: President Biden's home searched by Justice Department, more classified material found – 1/21/2023
News From South Carolina -
From Christianity Daily: Biggest South Carolina UMC Church Considers Departure from Denomination Amid Homosexuality Controversy – 1/13/2023
News From Washington D.C -
From NBC News: White House in "damage control mode" amid questions about classified documents – 1/17/2023
What affects one, can affect all!
* Friends of the Repubic -
* News From Our Canadian Neighbors -
From the Toronto Sun: Canada to help facilitate Cameroon peace process: Foreign Affairs Minister Joly – 1/20/2023
From the Montreal CTV News: Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre battle it out in Quebec – 1/18/2023
* News From Our Israeli Friends -
From Jerusalem Lights - Rabbi Chaim Richman: Jerusalem Lights Podcast # 147 : The Wave of History – 1/18/2023
ONE FOR ISRAEL Ministry: Who is Rashi?! Dr. Golan Broshi - Pod for Israel – 1/19/2023
From Christianity Daily: Against the Odds: Israel's Christian Community Thrives Despite Regional Decline in Church Attendance – 1/19/2023
Recommended Resources - follow the links…
Excellent Election Education Resource: US 2020 Election Fraud at a Glance
Excellent Non-Partisan Election Resource: Election Integrity Project California
Excellent Constitution Education Resource: LIBERTY TREE ONLINE UNIVERSITY
Excellent Citizen-Patriot News Resource: Steve Bannon's War Room
Excellent Citizen-Patriot News Resource: From Frank Speech - the Home of Free Speech
Excellent Citizen Comprehensive Resource: David Horowitz Freedom Center
Excellent Expose’ of Political Prisoners within the US: American Gulag
Excellent Source of CRT information for parents: Moms for America
Excellent Christian Homeschool Resource:
https://ed-exit.com/
Excellent Citizen Activist Resource: Precinct Strategy: Home
Excellent Guide to Protecting Families: A Guide to Protecting Your Family From the Coming Insurrection and Violence 1 ARE YOU SAFE?