It is with a spirit of thankfulness to the people of Washington County that I begin this column, the Sunday before the 483rd Thanksgiving in Texas. I will explain momentarily.
First, Sybren and I are grateful to you, our readers, many of whom we call friends. Thank you for your support and encouragement. My name appears on the byline, but Happenings on the Way to Heaven would not be happening without Sybren’s encouragement.
Next, I thought you would like to know that the abandoned dog I wrote about a month ago now has a loving home in Massachusetts. The photo shows Sybren saying goodbye to Eli shortly before the dog’s journey north.
Now, let me share three Thanksgiving prayers from our founding fathers. Maybe you can use these at your family meal on Thanksgiving.
Here is what George Washington wrote on November 26, 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 implore his protection and favor…Now, therefore, I do appoint Thursday, the 26th day of November 1789… that we may all unite to render unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection.”
Even earlier in 1777, our second Continental Congress issued a proclamation for Thanksgiving for all 13 colonies that read in part, “Congress recommends a day of …thanksgiving and praise so that the people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts…and join…their prayers that it may please God through the merits of Jesus Christ, to forgive our sins and enlarge His Kingdom which consists in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
Then here is this proclamation from one of our “least religious” founding fathers Thomas Jefferson: When he was Governor of Virginia in 1779, he said, “I appoint…a day of Public Thanksgiving to Almighty God…to ask Him that He would … pour out his Holy Spirit on all ministers of the Gospel; that He would spread the light of Christian knowledge through the remotest corners of the earth; …and that He would establish these United States upon the basis of religion and virtue.”
But our Thanksgiving tradition didn’t become official until the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, when after the battle of Gettysburg where 50,000 men died in three days of bloody battles, Lincoln issued this proclamation which reads in part, “We often forget the Source from which the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies come…No human wisdom hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God… I therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States…to observe the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.”
And we haven’t even gotten to the Pilgrims yet. But before we do, did you know that the first Thanksgiving may have begun in Texas?
According to the National Park Service website, the first known Thanksgiving took place in Palo Duro canyon in 1541.The Plainview newspaper wrote that along Texas Hwy 217 there is a Texas Historical Commission marker describing how Fray Juan De Padillo conducted thanksgiving services there on May 29, 1541, for the army accompanying Spanish conquistador Francisco Vasquez de Coronado. Here is a link to the story.
“Much like the Pilgrims, Coronado and his 1,500 traveling companions had much to be thankful. Tired, hungry, and disillusioned, the large company found food and water for themselves and their animals and help from the friendly Indian tribes who live there.”
Just as the Indians helped Coronado and his men, the last survivor of the Pawtuxet tribe helped the Pilgrims. Many of you know the basic outline of the Pilgrim story, but I am told this is no longer being well taught in the schools, so allow me a little grace if this is all too familiar to you.
The Pilgrims were part of a larger group of Englishmen and women who objected to the actions of the Church of England (also known as the Anglican church). The Church of England was alarmed by the number of dissenters within their midst and began imposing harsh laws to attempt to quell dissent. We know these dissenters as Quakers, Puritans, and Pilgrims.
Some of these laws forbade people from gathering for religious purposes in groups larger than five unless they were members of the official Church; they forbid dissenting pastors from preaching; they required all services to follow the order of service of the Church of England; and they required oaths of loyalty.
In addition, the Church was headed by the king (or queen) who appointed ministers and issued homilies that the minsters were required to say in place of sermons. Many people wanted their ministers to teach the bible as they saw fit and many ministers wished to do this, but this the Church frowned upon.
So, the result was that people began to “separate” from the Church and form their own congregation of like-minded Christians. Since it was quite dangerous, people met secretly including the separatists in Scrooby, England whom we know now as the Pilgrims.
Their leaders were John Robinson, William Bradford, and William Brewster. At a certain point, their pastor John Robinson decided it was too dangerous for them to remain in England, so the congregation fled to Leyden, Holland.
Holland was known to be much more tolerant of different religious views, but it was also a little loose, if you know what I mean. The Separatists stayed there for eleven years, but finally decided they must leave because their teenage children wanted to speak Dutch and practice Dutch customs instead of English. So, they returned to England, with the intention of raising money for a trip to the New World.
Alexis De Tocqueville who wrote Democracy in America was a Frenchman who travelled to America in the early 1800s and wrote a great book about his observations of America. It has become a classic.
He had this to say about the Pilgrims. They wanted to sail to America to “some rude and unfrequented part of the world where they could live according to their own opinions, and worship God in freedom...." In other words, the Pilgrims planted the seeds of Judeo-Christian principles in the New World that grew into the United States of America.
So, the Pilgrims, a people now so-called because they had journeyed for religious reasons, believed like Moses leading the Israelites, they were coming to the Promised Land of America.
They left on September 6 and the voyage took two months. They had borrowed money from “venture capitalists” to whom they promised all their profits for the first seven years. They numbered about a 100, including a group nicknamed “strangers.” These were not Pilgrims but men who possessed certain skills needed for starting a colony.
Their destination was northern Virginia, but due to the stormy weather, they were blown off course by hundreds of miles and landed in Cape Cod. It was a harrowing trip, and they almost were lost at sea when their mast broke, but providentially they had enough spare parts to repair it.
When they arrived, they knew they had not reached Virginia and spent time sailing along the coast even up the Hudson River looking for safe harbor, but "dangerous shoals and roaring breakers" forced them to return to Cape Cod and their scouting expeditions led them to Plymouth Rock.
Aboard ship the “strangers” were becoming disgruntled and wanted to get away. So, at this moment of crisis, William Bradford wrote an agreement for the 41 Pilgrims men and Strangers to sign. This was called the Mayflower Compact. They signed it aboard the Mayflower on November 11, 1620.
It was to remain the governing document of the Plymouth colony until 1691 when they joined the Massachusetts Bay colony and formed Massachusetts. The Mayflower Compact is one of our earliest “founding documents.”
Here is how it begins, “Having undertaken for the glory of God and advancements of Christian faith and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves to gather into a civil body politick…”
It was a short covenant, signed by all the men.
The first Pilgrims’ Thanksgiving was actually held that same year in 1620 in December when they finally disembarked. Unfortunately, the weather was so cold that it was too late to plant crops and too difficult to build shelters. So, even though they had a great spirit, half of the 100 people who came died within the first two months, mostly from infections, the hardship of the long voyage, and exposure.
The first pastor of the Pilgrims who went on to become their governor was William Bradford. He kept a journal called Of Plymouth Plantation that was never published in his lifetime but was well-known.
Somehow, it was stolen by British soldiers during the American Revolution and then in 1855, it was discovered in the library of the Bishop of London. A facsimile was published in 1897. It covers the history of the Plymouth colony from its founding until 1650.
He had this to say about that first winter, “Sometimes two or three died in one day. At one point there were only six or seven healthy persons. To their great commendation may it be spoken, they spared no pains, night nor day, but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them fires, drest (prepared) their meat, made their beds; washed their loathsome clothes; clothed them and unclothed them; in a way did all the homey and necessary duties for the sick which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot endure to be named; and all this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least, showing their true love unto their friends and brethren. A rare example to be remembered."
I find these details of history so touching. It makes these people real to me and I hope to you. At any rate, back to the story.
So, on March 16, an Indian who spoke broken English named Samoset introduced himself to the Pilgrims. They had just come out of the worst of the winter and the “starving times.” Imagine their amazement to meet someone who spoke English. Then he told them an amazing fact. There is another Indian who speaks fluent English and knows your religion. So, this is how Squanto enters the story.
Squanto was a member of the Pawtuxet tribe. His people were extremely warlike, but a plague had wiped them out just three years before the Pilgrims arrived. Amazingly, their storehouses were still there for the Pilgrims to use.
The story of Squanto is fascinating in its own right.
He was kidnapped twice.
The first time was in 1605, and he was taken to England where he lived for nine years and that was when he learned to speak English. Then in 1614, he went back to New England with the famous Captain of Jamestown, John Smith.
Shortly thereafter, he had the misfortune to be kidnapped a second time and taken to Spain and sold into slavery. Providentially, two local friars rescued him and bought his freedom. They introduced him to Christianity.
From Spain he eventually travelled to England where he stayed until 1619 until he was able to secure passage back to New England. When Squanto returned to his homeland, he could not find his tribe and learned that they had been wiped out. He was the last surviving member of the Pawtuxet tribe. He joined the Wampanoag tribe whose chief was Massasoit.
Squanto befriended the Pilgrims and taught them how to stalk deer, plant pumpkins, find berries, catch beaver whose pelts would become the Pilgrims’ ticket to economic survival, and most importantly negotiated a peace treaty with the Indians which lasted 50 years.
So, during the fall of their second year, Governor William Bradford appointed a day for Thanksgiving and invited the Wampanoag tribe to celebrate with them. Chief Massasoit and 90 Indians came and feasted with the Pilgrims. They ate deer, turkey, fish, lobster, eels, vegetables, corn bread, herbs, berries, pies, and the Indians even taught the Pilgrims how to make popcorn.
They played games and competed in running, wrestling, and shooting games. The feast lasted three days. This is where the American tradition of feasting at Thanksgiving began. The Pilgrims set aside this day to give thanks to Almighty God and acknowledge their utter dependence upon Him for their existence.
So, in our Happenings let us remember to look for the hand of Divine Providence. This may be a tough year in our country and the world. Just as we came out of a pandemic and lockdowns, we were saddled with inflation, supply shortages, a war in Ukraine and Israel and the list goes on but knowing that people like the Pilgrims faced death with such courage and determination to succeed helps me, and I hope helps you.
One of those chief blessings is the type of government our founders created.
Our founders believed they needed to get away from kings. They looked to the Bible for a model and realized that the original government in the Old Testament was a Godly system that Jethro, had instructed his son-in-law, Moses.
Moses had burdened himself with making all the decisions so as a consequence had become overwhelmed. Here's what Jethro said.
17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” (Exodus 18:17-23 NIV)
This passage was the inspiration for American representative government. Our founders believed that God had intended for people to have representative government, not monarchy.
In fact, in the first book of Samuel, we learn that God disapproved of monarchy. Why, you ask? The reason is simple. There is but one King and that is God. When men and women become earthly kings and queens, we are rejecting God.
Here is what the Bible says. First, Samuel rejects the people’s request for a king. One could say he is biased because he is hoping his sons will take his place as judge, but his sons are clearly not God fearing, capable, and corrupt.
The Israelites ask Samuel to “appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other nations.” This request displeases Samuel (1 Sam. 8:4-6). Samuel warns the people that kings can crush the people financially, emotionally, and spiritually.
“These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen to run before his chariots; and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his courtiers. (1 Sam. 8:10-17)
In fact, kings can become so oppressive that eventually the people will beg God to save them from kings (1 Sam. 8:18).
How often has this played out in history?
Yet in this story, the Lord decides to allow the people to choose their form of government, and he instructs Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them" (1 Sam. 8:7).
To conclude this column, I am updating last week's article I wrote about President Trump's nominations. With yesterday’s announcement of his Secretary of Agriculture, President-Elect Trump has completed his cabinet nominations. Names in bold were nominated since November 17.
President-Elect Trump will continue making nominations for other key positions, but I have accomplished my goal to provide you an easy reference that is unmarred by wild opinions on his nominations.
Just a reminder. The President's Cabinet is made up of 15 leaders that are each in charge of an executive department. The nominations of the president will be confirmed by a majority of the Senate unless the Senate is in recess. If the Senate is not in session, the President can make "recess appointments. An * by the name means it does not require Senate confirmation.
Cabinet Nominations
Attorney General: Pam Bondi (Department of Justice) **
Secretary of Commerce: Howard Lutnick, Cantor Fitzgerald chairman and CEO, Co-Chair of the Trump transition team
Defense Secretary: Pete Hegseth
Education Secretary: Linda McMahon, former administrator of the Small Business Administration and Co-Chair of the Trump transition team
Secretary of Energy: Chris Wright
HHS secretary: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Secretary of Agriculture: Brooke Rollins
Secretary of Homeland Security: Kristi Noem (R S.D.)
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development: Scott Turner
Secretary of the Interior: Doug Burgum
Secretary of Labor, Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R OR)
Secretary of State: Marco Rubio (R Fl)
Secretary of Transportation: Sean Duffy, former GOP Wisconsin congressman and host of Fox Business
Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessant, hedge fund manager of Key Square Group, Economic Adviser to Trump during his presidential campaign, formerly financier for George Soros, (2011-2015).
Secretary of Veterans Affairs: Doug Collins (R Ga)
Other Noteworthy nominations
"Border czar": Tom Homan*
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator: Mehmet Oz, former TV personality and GOP PA Senate candidate
CIA director: John Ratcliffe
CDC Commissioner: Dr. Dave Weldon
Department of Government Efficiency: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy
Deputy Attorney General: Todd Blanche
Deputy Chief of Staff: Dan Scavino
Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Adviser: Stephen Miller
Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative, Political and Public affairs: James Blair
Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Personnel: Taylor Budowich
Deputy attorney general: Todd Blanche
Director of national intelligence: Tulsi Gabbard (D Ha)
EPA administrator: Lee Zeldin (R N.Y.)
FCC Chairman: Brendan Carr
FDA Commissioner: Marty Makary
National Security Adviser: Michael Waltz*
Presidential Personnel Office head: Sergio Gor
Solicitor General: Dean John Sauer
Surgeon General: Dr. Janette Nesheiwat
U.N. Ambassador: Elise Stefanik (R. N.Y.)
U.S. Ambassador to Israel: Mike Huckabee
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York: Jay Clayton
White House counsel: William McGinley
White House chief of staff: Susie Wiles*
White House Press Secretary: Karoline Leavitt*
** Replaces Matt Gaetz, Congressman from Florida. Bondi is the current Attorney General of Florida. Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination on November 21, 2024.
Source: Government Executive: www.govexec.com and Wikipedia
By comparison, when our country began, the cabinet consisted of five positions
President: George Washington
Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson
Secretary of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of War: Henry Knox
Attorney General: Edmund Randolph
Time will reveal the wisdom of Trump's second administration. Let us continue to pray for the President-Elect’s wisdom and discernment as well as that of the Senate, and that of his nominees. Remember these words. “But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.” (Exodus 18:21)
The most important question today is not where the country is headed. The question is where are you headed? Where am I headed? When you live with a spirit of Thankfulness, you’ll find there are blessings abounding.
Happy Thanksgiving!