Moving Toward Inauguration

George Washington at Valley Forge, by Arnold Friberg

"Before the Lord We Bow"
by Francis S. Key, 1779-1843

Tune - Darwall's 148th - linked here

1. Before the Lord we bow,
The God who reigns above
And rules the world below
In boundless pow'r and love.
Our thanks we bring,
In joy and praise
Our hearts we raise
To heav'n's high King.

2. The nation Thou hast blest
May well Thy love declare,
From foes and fears at rest,
Protected by Thy care.
For this fair land,
For this bright day,
Our thanks we pay--
Gifts of Thy hand.

3. May ev'ry mountain height,
Each vale and forest green,
Shine in Thy Word's pure light
And its rich fruits be seen!
May ev'ry tongue
Be tuned to praise
And join to raise
A grateful song!

4. Earth, hear thy Maker's voice,
Thy great Redeemer own;
Believe, obey, rejoice,
And worship Him alone.
Cast down thy pride,
Thy sin deplore,
And bow before
The Crucified.

5. And when in power He comes,
Oh, may our native land
From all its rending tombs
Send forth a glorious band,
A countless throng,
For aye to sing
To heaven's high King
Salvation's song!

Hymn #575
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Psalm 145:1
Author: Francis S. Key, 1832, alt.
Composer: John Darwall, 1770
Tune: "Darwall's 148th"

 Francis Scott Key
He freed his own slaves, Handbook, TLH, p. 531.

People begin with "What's next?" and the military asks, "What's last?" It is a good way to look at life, to consider the end and plan forward to the present. 

The fakes heroes brag and wear their pawn shop medals to impress everyone. The only person to tell me he was a Navy SEAL was a fake, who wanted to impress me. He lost from that moment on. I asked a distinguished veteran, who made many landings against the enemy, "What medals did you earn?" He laughed and said, "The usual bunch."

When one side plans from the end forward to the present, and the opponents plan from the present to a glorious future, there is often a double envelopment. A double envelopment means the hapless aggressors have seized the bait only to realize their folly. Wellington, of blessed memory, kept retreating from Napoleon's army, until he arrived at the perfect place to win - Waterloo. Napoleon's victory was a free trip to Saint Helena, where he died.

I only have this advice for the President's opponents, "Never play tag in a house of mirrors." I am confident that America will soon be a different country.