Much information following my brief commentary…

True Thanksgiving

by Ken Pullen

ACP

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Contrary to the decadent and corrupt ways that have eroded the truth the last Thursday of November in America is NOT “turkey day” as almost everyone calls it now. It was established as a day of thanksgiving unto the Lord for all that this nation has been blessed with. As we stray from the truth, and erode the truth, and replace it with what we feel is innocent or benign these lies and evil our nation has also fallen into  only leads us further into darkness. We no longer are as richly blessed as we once were. We deny God and then expect things to continue to get better? We serve Satan and demand our lives become easier, richer, and better? How can a rational, critically thinking mind believe such a thing? Are the delusions, the illusions, the lies so pervasive and strong in these times no one can break their bonds and see and hear the truth? Why so nonchalant and shrugging off this growing evil and the erosion of truth to follow in the pathways of evil?

Will Rogers once said that the problem in America isn’t so much what people don’t know; the problem is what people think they know that just ain’t so. Nowhere is the great humorists observations more apt than when it comes to what the people think they know about history and God. As most blame God for everything yet refuse to acknowledge the very real presence and existence of the devil and evil. Ignorance abounds and grows daily. We the people slide further and further into passivity being lax and apathetic to the truth before us. If we would only open our eyes, open our ears…and open our hearts! I wonder how many reading this know that the national day of Thanksgiving was proclaimed by George Washington to be a national day of prayer and public thanksgiving to Almighty God for all He had done and continued to do for America? To now become “turkey day” where people compete to see how much they can eat while mesmerized by football, and drooling over the anticipation of getting great deals, as visions of shopping dance through their pathetic misled heads! And when it comes to what the people think they know about history? Oy vey!

Following readers will discover perhaps for the first time the real thanksgiving and what it means. Perhaps for some this will be revisiting
these truths. Whatever the case it is my hope and prayer all that have arrived at this point will read this entire posting and share it with others they know. Our present, our future, and theirs is dependent upon knowing and living the truth.

And contrary to the prevalent belief now in America the last Thursday in November is not “turkey day” or a day to watch football, or to partake in gluttony without giving any thought to others, or to the One True Living God which makes their lives possible, their every heart beat and breath possible, or the day to prepare to gorge on shopping in preparation for the Pagan fest that Christmas has become, as they prepare for what they call “Black Friday” for as the veil thickens over their eyes and their ears have become nothing but receptacles for false teachings and their own lusts they will soon learn every Friday will become black…as each day of the coming weeks will only lead them further into darkness unless they seek the truth and wisdom and gain the understanding of God’s Word.

I hope after you finish reading this entire posting with all its information you have a better understanding and it leads you to contemplate and
think long and hard on the choices made and who it is that is being served by the life you lead.

George Washington’ proclamation for a national day of Thanksgiving

October 3, 1789

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 favour; and Whereas both Houfes of Congress have, by their joint committee, requefted me “to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to eftablifh a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and affign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of thefe States to the fervice 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 fincere and humble thanksfor His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the fignal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpofitions of His providence in the courfe and conclufion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have fince enjoyed;– for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to eftablish Conftitutions of government for our fafety and happinefs, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;– for the civil and religious liberty with which we are bleffed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffufing useful knowledge;– and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleafed to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in moft humbly offering our prayers and fupplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and befeech Him to pardon our national and other tranfgreffions;– to enable us all, whether in publick or private ftations, to perform our feveral and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a bleffing to all the people by conftantly being a Government of wife, juft, and conftitutional laws, difcreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all fovereigns and nations (especially fuch as have shewn kindnefs unto us); and to blefs them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increafe of fcience among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind fuch a degree of temporal profperity as he alone knows to be beft.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand feven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington

Praise the Lord for His goodness!

PSALM 107

1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;

37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.

41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

The Real  Story Behind Thanksgiving

The Real History of Thanksgiving

Nobody is claiming the textbook version of Thanksgiving isn’t true, it’s just been whitewashed of a fact that changed the world.

By Frank Miniter, Executive Field Editor

We’ve all been sold a fantasy about the first Thanksgiving. And that’s okay. Some things should grow purer, cleaner in the telling; age gives them an idealized charm, a warm simplicity as bright as a fairy tale. The present just doesn’t have the same Technicolor hue; it’s too full of dirty details, of things such as Aunt Martha’s dentures falling into the gravy, and Uncle Steve’s dog, Clyde, running about the house with the just-cooked turkey and of other things, sights not so amusing. No, the issue isn’t that the textbook version of Thanksgiving is not true, the problem is it has been whitewashed of a fact that changed the world.

The Pilgrims’ Thanksgiving feast of 1621 in the Plymouth Plantation is now referred to as the original meal that later began the holiday of thanks; however, for British New England, some historians point out that the Popham Colony in Maine conducted a Thanksgiving service in 1607. Other celebrations in the early colonial period even called the day after the fall harvest was complete “Thanksgiving.” Actually, the holiday of thanks wasn’t a surprising occurrence, but a part of their agrarian culture; in fact, many Native Americans held similar celebrations. They deemed the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox to be the “Harvest Moon.” The next full moon, which generally occurs in October, was called the “Hunters Moon.” On clear nights the period of darkness between sunset and moonrise is also shorter near the equinox; as a result, the light reflected from the full moon rising just after sunset was said to help farmers working to bring in their crops, and, in the case of the Hunter’s Moon, to help hunters see deer after twilight.

These two celebrations came together in 1621 at Plymouth Plantation in large part because of Squanto, a Patuxet Native American. Much like Pocahontas, Squanto taught the pilgrims how to catch eel and grow corn and served as an interpreter. (Squanto had learned English while enslaved in Europe.) Squanto negotiated with the Wampanoag chief, Massasoit, and got him to give food to the starving Pilgrims during their first winter. Because of Squanto’s help, the feast now referred to as the first Thanksgiving was held in early October in 1621 and was celebrated by 53 Pilgrims, along with the Native American chief Massasoit and 90 members of his tribe.
Squanto, however, soon fell out of favor with Massasoit. At one point, the pilgrims even assembled an armed force to free Squanto from a hostile tribe. They freed Squanto, but he didn’t live long afterwards. Many historians believe that Squanto was poisoned, likely by the Wampanoag. He was buried in Plymouth Plantation’s cemetery.

Three accounts of the Plymouth Plantation’s Thanksgiving feast survive: Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford; Mourt’s Relation, which was probably written by Edward Winslow; and New England’s Memorial penned by Captain Nathaniel Morton. The celebration lasted three days and featured a feast that included ducks, geese, wild turkeys, fish caught by the colonists and five deer killed by the Wampanoag.

Bradford noted that “besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which [we] took many.” (Today, thanks to conservation efforts by American hunters, wild turkeys, which had been reduced to about 30,000 nationwide in the 1920s, now number about 7 million and can be hunted in every state except Alaska.)

Winslow described the Plymouth Plantation’s Thanksgiving feast this way: “Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which we brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor.”

Afterwards, festivals of Thanksgiving were observed sporadically in the colonies. But in 1789, Elias Boudinot, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts, moved that a day of Thanksgiving be held to thank God for giving the American people the prudence to create a constitution that safeguarded freedom. A congressional committee approved the motion and informed President George Washington. On Oct. 3, 1789, Washington proclaimed “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer” on Thursday, the 26th of November. But Thanksgiving faded away for decades after President James Madison proclaimed a day of Thanksgiving in 1815.

Most of the credit for the permanent establishment of a Thanksgiving holiday goes to Sarah Josepha Hale. She was the editor of Ladies Magazine. She argued for the return of Thanksgiving in articles and by lobbying politicians. After years of crusading, she swayed President Abraham Lincoln. On Oct. 3, 1863, Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day be observed every year on the fourth Thursday of November.

Other than such historical details, what has been lost in time is that the Pilgrims were in peril in part because they’d tried communal farming. During their first 2½ years the Pilgrims at Plymouth Plantation didn’t own private property. Food was grown by the townspeople and distributed equally. Communism ruled. Naturally, some residents began sleeping in, sure someone else would till the field.

So, according to Bradford, “The experience that was had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Plato’s and other ancients applauded by some of later times; that the taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God. For this community (so far as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit.”

By 1623, after cinching down their square belt buckles, Plymouth Plantation’s leaders tried the American path to prosperity. They allotted private property to each family and declared that if residents didn’t work, they wouldn’t eat. Productivity immediately increased.

Again, according to William Bradford in his account, “So they began to think how they might raise as much corn as they could, and obtain a better crop than they had done, that they might not still thus languish in misery. At length, after much debate of things, the Governor … gave way that they should set corn every man for his own particular, and in that regard trust to themselves … .

And so assigned to every family a parcel of land, according to the proportion of the number, for that end … . This had very good success, for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been by any means the Governor or any other could use, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better content. The women now went willingly into the field, and took their little ones with them to set corn; which before would allege weakness and inability; whom to have compelled would have been thought great tyranny and oppression.”
Such is the gritty true story of how an American holiday of thanks led to times of plenty, and even to the capitalistically augmented Bread Basket of the world.
True thanksgiving is found in Psalm 107 of God’s inerrant Living Word. It is my hope and prayer at this time that all reading this push themselves away from the table of mediocrity and laziness and apathy. That each person takes a hold of the Lord’s truth within their hearts and spirits, and that a genuine giving of thanks – DAILY – can be given to our Almighty God and Creator.

Our purpose here is not to shop, to eat, to pursue our own vanities and pleasures. Our purpose in being created is to pursue and worship
Almighty God and The Son. In doing such we are not sacrificing a thing and gaining EVERYTHING. It is each persons choice. Serve themselves, this world and therefore Satan…or serve the Lord and be of His service. One path leads to death. The other to life. Life eternal. Where each moment will be beyond our limited and vain comprehension and each moment of eternity will be one of giving thanks for seeing the Light, the Truth, the Way and no longer walking in darkness and to our eternal deaths…where every moment of every day throughout eternity will be “Black Friday” for those refusing the truth of the Lord’s Living Word.

Ken