Vaughnshire Farm

Thanks to some friends of ours who led us to a little book store in Alabama, we came home with some very inspiring, great books. 

One of the things we as a family feel is very important is building a library of great books including old books.  We found a lot of old books that Solid Ground had republished as well as some other older books from other publishers. 

We will be posting some book reviews very soon…. 

If you are in the area, you should check them out…or visit them at their website. 

I have followed the German persecution of home schooling families over the last couple of years.  Recently, I  found these articles closer to home to be especially disturbing about a home schooling mom who has fled the state of Utah after a judge ordered her to enroll her children in public school.  This is on our home land…not in some foreign land once dictated by Nazi rule. 

You can read the full story here on World Net Daily and follow the updates on the situation: 

Mom threatened with jail for teaching kids at home

Woman abandons home to escape public school

Her response, “…But my kids are not going to public school. They are not going where Jesus isn’t welcome.”   She went on to say, “I’m not going back unless the judge removes the threat of arrest.  I’ll fight for the cause but I’m not going to be a martyr.”

Any statist government despises parents who believe that their children are THEIR children and because of that belief, seek to teach and train them how they (the parents) see fit….not how the state thinks fit.  (Ps.2)

In this such case, it was a paper glitch that launched this family into the gripping hands of the state. 

Threats and actions such as these are more common in Germany where home schooling is illegal under an old Hitler era law.  In fact, Germany considers home schooling equal to child endangerment and has no problem persecuting families who dare to defy such an unjust law.  World Net Daily states in a recent article:

Wolfgang Drautz, consul general for the Federal Republic of Germany, has commented… the government “has a legitimate interest in countering the rise of parallel societies that are based on religion or motivated by different world views and in integrating minorities into the population as a whole.”

Drautz said home school students’ test results may be as good as for those in school, but “school teaches not only knowledge but also social conduct, encourages dialogue among people of different beliefs and cultures, and helps students to become responsible citizens.”

At least the man is honest and admits that public state education is not just concerned with knowledge.  What social conduct standards does American public school education hold too?  We have all been assured that they are not anywhere close to anything Biblical and in fact are in direct opposition to the Word of God.  Shall we rehash the recent fiasco in California… or for that matter any myriad of reports pouring out of the news regarding the latest happenings in American government schools. 

What dialogue does the statist system encourage?  Acceptance of everyone no matter what false religion or god they serve or don’t serve….except those who hold to standards and declare there is but one Lord, the true and living God.  Culture is to be left up to the personal interpretation of each individual person.  Two mommies, no daddy, no matter:  acceptance of those things the Lord hates is the only normal social conduct approved. 

Helping students to become responsible citizens is code for “you will never question anything we say and you will owe your allegiance to the all powerful state or else.”  Government education has goals and agendas to produce cogs that properly fit into the system flawlessly. 

The beginning of public education in this country is an interesting study and one I think is a must study for home educators.  In the late 1800’s, Rev. R.L. Dabney warned of the evils of government education and sadly his warnings were unheeded by the church at large.  For they swallowed a bill of goods hook, line and sinker and fell into the lie that public school was “Christian”.  Gary North points out in his lectures on The Unknown History of the 20th century:  The public school system was NEVER Christian.  It was all a pseud to lure Christians into the statist frog pot.  And it worked. 

We have come a long way and many parents are understanding the importance of home education.  However, far too many times, home schoolers get caught up in this competition game with public education.  Many are consumed with focusing on producing academically superior, well-socialized children all the while forgetting the number one reason why we are commanded as Christians to teach our children from a distinctly Biblical approach!  Many still idolize what so called “experts” say and follow the same patterns and theories of schooling made up by the social darwinians. 

R.C. Sproul Jr. in his book, When You Rise Up:  A Covenantal Approach to Homeschooling, says, “The true expert on education, is the very One who gave you these children.” 

When You Rise Up is the most influential, hard hitting, Biblically based book I have ever read on the subject of homeschooling.  If you are a home schooling family, you must read this book and then keep it on your shelf for periodic refreshment!  It will encourage and put focus and purpose on what God says true education is. 

It’s not about purely academics.  Like our German Nazi thinking fellow said:  schooling isn’t only about knowledge.  And for the Christian, it is first and foremost teaching our children about the one, true, Holy God.  All other academics flow out of that truth.  Let us never swallow the lie that education is neutral.  It never has been and never can be neutral!   (Ps.1, Ps.78, Deut.6, Prov.1-4)

We had a very eventful day full of remembering and giving thanks for the Providential hand of God in our lives.  Daddy read the historical account of how the Gospel was spread westward and laid out God’s Providential guiding hand in the lives of the Separatists who fled their homeland for Holland and then 12 years later fled Holland for America.  It is a mighty story of God’s faithfulness even amidst trials and tribulations.   It is a story that we tell our children so that they will remember where they came from and hopefully to instill in them the commitment and courage to take similar stands our forefathers took for the sake of the Gospel.  In the middle of our history lesson, we were interrupted by a herd of deer grazing in our yard.  One of the children saw the deer out of the living room window and we all jumped up and enjoyed watching them. 

We, of course, feasted on the bounty that the Lord has provided and gave many thanks in speech, action and by index card.  Index Card?  We started a tradition several years ago where we leave a container on the table where we can put handwritten “I am thankful for….” index cards in the jar to be read Thanksgiving night as we gather around the table again for supper.  Daddy reads the cards and we all enjoy hearing what everyone has written down.  The younger children who are unable to write yet, draw pictures of things they are thankful for or they can enlist an older buddy helper to write what they say.  It is a wonderful time of reflection, remembrance and thanks! 

One thanks we all gave was for the beautiful turkey our family was blessed to raise here on the farm this year.  The turkey meant all the more to us knowing that the work and care paid off in,  not only a wonderful learning experience for us, especially the boys, but also the provision of meat for our family. 

We had one small problem at about midnight last night.  That 40 lb turkey doesn’t fit in a 22 quart roasting pan.  However, that was the only pan we had that came even close to housing that massive turkey.

After a little bit of prodding and shoving….We fit the turkey in the pan.  It was a snug fit, but it would have to do. 

 Thankfully, it did fit in the oven and about 8 hours later it was ready.  We overestimated the cooking time and even though it was a little more done than ideal, the meat was absolutely wonderful!  We will be definitely raising our Thanksgiving turkey in the years to come (and hopefully additional turkey to sell)!

We also took a  ”Turkey Trivia” quiz during the day that my husband found online and set up for us all to take.  The winner of the trivia quiz was our 10 year old…  He beat out mom and dad even!  The winner of the quiz was privileged with being able to pull the turkey wishbone with the one who raised the turkey.  Here, the boys pose for a picture with the massive wishbone. 

Tomorrow we will be picking up our farm raised pork (folks around here call it a hawg) from the butcher and will have some interesting stories to tell about that experience.  As you might imagine, pigs don’t just jump in the trailer and asked to be taken to the butcher.  More to come…

My husband preached a message in church several Sunday’s ago about the brevity of life.  He mentioned that we had recently visited the grave stones of our descendants 4 and 5 generations past and saw on each marker the date of birth and the date of death with what lies between being that short dash of physical life.  Is the life that we live today living to glorify God?  Are we advancing His kingdom here on earth in our mortal bodies?  Are we fixed upon the things above?

 As we prepare to leave tomorrow to attend the funeral of a friend and co-laborer in the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom, 19-year-old Michael Billings, we mourn a great loss while still trusting in the Sovereign hand of our Lord that He indeed has the time of our birth and the time of our death in His hands. 

“…You do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James 4:14

Mr. Phillips offered a complete tribute to Michael.  In it he stated, “Michael was the oldest young man I ever met…”.  I have to say that when I read that I had to agree completely with such an accurate assessment.  He was indeed the most mature oldest young man I have ever met.  Were you to have met this young man, you would have been absolutely amazed by his maturity and composure.    He didn’t waste his youth in frivolous things or worldly losses.  He was a stalwart example of a youth well beyond his years living his life completely and solely for Christ’s Crown and none other. 

Our family’s last visit with Michael was several weeks ago when we took a trip to San Antonio to visit our dear friends the Grady family, Michael’s oldest sister and brother in-law.  Michael joined us at Church and we had fellowship with him  and the Grady’s over lunch and later on that day at the DeLadurantey home where we had encouraging discussions over a variety of subjects which included the men sitting around the living room discussing weighty topics of entrepreneurship, business, church, family and the usual topics that surround men that desire to be used of God to reform this culture.  

We met the Grady and Billings families at the Zes family’s famous 4th of July party several years prior where young Michael stood up and gave an incredible speech he had written at around the age of 15 or 16 and one which was well over most of our heads.  Since then we enjoyed listening to several other speeches and memorization pieces he had done at these 4th of July celebrations.  A powerful, in his own words, sermon he preached at the age of 17 tells more about Michael’s love and understanding of the Lord than any could explain in words.    I encourage you to listen to it:  Life is But a Vapor. 

May we be encouraged to raise such mighty warriors for Christ while yet still in their youth, that can and will do much damage to the kingdom of darkness. 

It is wonderful to have friends that embrace the narrow road and seek to live out the life of true Christianity.  Recently, my dear sister in Christ and good friend, Jennifer Grady, sent this quote to me that her children had found.  It says:

Though the cross of Christ has been beautified by the poet and the artist, the avid seeker after God is likely to find it the same savage instrument of destruction it was in the days of old. The way of the cross is still the pain-wracked path to spiritual power and fruitfulness.So do not seek to hide from it. Do not accept an easy way. Do not allow yourself to be patted to sleep in a comfortable church, void of power and barren of fruit. Do not paint the cross nor deck it with flowers. Take it for what it is, as it is, and you will find the rugged way to death and life. Let it slay you utterly. 

A.W. Tozer’s book The Radical Cross

For our own family, we thank God that He has surrounded us with friends who do not seek to hide from the cross of Christ but instead seek to embrace that rugged cross.  We praise God for friends that stand with us to encourage us with the uncompromising truth of the Gospel.  The Billings and Grady families have offered such support and encouragement to us over the years.  We are grateful for their love and support to our family and we are grateful that the Lord has knit our hearts together.  We grieve with them and stand by them as brothers and sisters in Christ during such a painful time. 

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed”, says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”  Revelation 14:13

 Mr. Nathaniel Darnell gives a wonderful tribute to his dear friend. 

Several weeks ago, we had a wonderful evening of fellowship with the Carpenter Family and author R. J. Williams Jr. and his wife.  Mr. Williams wrote the book, Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man’s Friend, from which Franklin Spring’s new movie, Still Standing - The Stonewall Jackson Story was inspired.

The new DVD from Franklin Springs Family Media just released today and we have been negligent, due to our travels, getting this review out.  This is yet another excellent film from Franklin Springs that not only excels in masterful workmanship and beauty, but completely captures the Biblical worldview, the gentle heart, and solid character of Stonewall Jackson during a pivotal time in our nation’s history.  We especially enjoyed the information presented about Stonewall Jackson’s black Sunday school class in which he labored diligently to share the love of Christ with his black brothers and sisters.  It is a fascinating and inspiring story that still lives on today.

The film is beautiful.  We greatly enjoyed the rich cinematography which is remarkably more vivid and complex with many beautiful intricacies that lent further richness to the well-told storyline.

As a home educating family whose children thrive on any bits and pieces of information surrounding the Great War and those involved in it, I appreciate such quality and accuracy in this historical biography of Jackson.  Still Standing highlights a man whose intense love for the Lord, unshakable courage in the face of adversity and stalwart faith in the Almighty still impacts my family today in the year 2007.

Our family will be using the film as an important homeschool tool this Fall.  There is a wealth of historically accurate information from a Biblical worldview that will be used to build the academic knowledge of our children.  More importantly, this film provides yet another reminder of the importance of studying Godly men from the past.  The preparation of Godly men to lead the cultural reformation our nation needs, must include an understanding of our nation’s history.  The character of men like Stonewall is the character of the men that move nations.

Although the film itself did not attempt to tackle the moral difficulties of the time period, it does fully examine the life of a great general who himself wrestled with those issues.  The film discusses some little known facts about a man our politically correct institutions have ignored for far too long.  As such the ”Vaughnshire Review Board”…that is to say dad and mom along with all the children, gave it a quiverfull thumbs up.

We will also be getting the book, Stonewall Jackson: The Black Man’s Friend by R.J. Williams which the movie Still Standing was inspired from.

Checkout the trailer and order a copy for your family at Franklin Springs today.

I love reading about the lives of faithful, Godly women in history: their steady faith in God, their love of home and family, their understanding of their roles and duties — It is inspiring!

A return to biblical womanhood is disastrous for the feminist agenda.  They would love nothing more, than to keep women in bondage by infecting even Christian women with the ideologies and beliefs of the pagan world.

A life lived in submission to God is where we find true freedom.  It is an exhilarating freedom that surpasses all!

In our efforts to train our daughters with a distinctly biblical worldview, we engage in opportunities that further that vision.  Recently, we attended a Godly Girl Tea Party hosted by a family in our church and had a fabulous time.  The girls prepared reports about a woman in history that portrayed Godly character traits in their life and someone who remains a shining example to us today.

We had some very inspiring reports from the young ladies on women like Corrie and Betsy Ten Boom, whom never married and lived at home to serve their father and run the family business.  These sisters were courageous women who saved the lives of many Jews during the Holocaust.  They endured extreme persecution from the Germans as they were ultimately tortured, and Betsy was killed, at the Ravensbruck concentration camp for their stand on Biblical principles of caring for those in need.  Corrie’s life was preserved and she positively impacted countless lives over the course of her 91 full years of life with the message, “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.”

We heard about the wives of great missionaries who risked their lives in an effort to share the love of Christ with those who did not know Him.

We learned about the incredible strength of Priscilla Mullins who sailed on the Mayflower at the age of 17, eventually losing her family in the New World but despite extreme trials and hardships, she remains a pillar example of the strength a woman has when she submits her life to Christ and trusts completely in His Providence.

Other great American historical wives like Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams and Anne Bradstreet, wife of the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony show us examples of women who were skilled with the pen, well educated women who raised influential children, stood by their husbands as an example of faithfulness and deference and impacted history through their devotion and commitment to the family.  Abigail Adams allows us into her life through the many letters she and her husband wrote giving us an understanding of Godly marital love and devotion. Anne penned numerous poems about her struggles in Puritan New England, her husband and children.  She lived life as the busy mother of 8 children and supportive wife of Governor Bradstreet, who through his wife’s passion for living a life of Biblical womanhood, allowed him to lead his family to became highly influential during a pivotal time of laying Biblical foundations in our nation. One of her most notable poems, I love:

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov’d by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers canneot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompetence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay.
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persever
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

Our report was on Katie Luther, the amazing wife of the great protestant reformer Martin Luther, whose incredible strength and understanding of duty, is a shining example of how incredibly valuable a wife is to furthering her husband’s vision for their family.  She raised 6 children, cared for 4 orphans, ran the affairs of a large family farm, grew her own food and ran the family brewery, managed land and livestock and was incredibly skilled in medicine and used her knowledge to treat those who were sick in their community and was dearly adored by her husband. She accomplished these things not as an independent self-focused woman, she accomplished these things under the authority of her husband with a heart and attitude of furthering the vision of her husband through her love, devotion and service to her family.

These women provide us with true inspiration by showing us that their faith and trust in the Almighty and Godly character were far more important than any earthly accomplishments they had.  Through their faith, we see strong women who knew their place and embraced their calling.  As well, these women leave a legacy of devotion and faith in Christ that we can learn from today.

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• Alabama 1901 , Preamble: We the people of the State of Alabama, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution.
• Alaska 1956, Preamble: We, the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.
• Arizona 1911, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Arizona, grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution…
• Arkansas 1874, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Arkansas, grateful to Almighty God for the privilege of choosing our own form of government…
• California 1879, Preamble: We, the People of the State of California, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom.
• Colorado 1876, Preamble: We, the people of Colorado, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of Universe.
• Connecticut 1818, Preamble: The People of Connecticut, acknowledging with gratitude the good Providence of God in permitting them to enjoy.
• Delaware 1897, Preamble: Through Divine Goodness all men have, by nature, the rights of worshipping and serving their Creator according to the dictates of their consciences.
• Florida 1885, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Florida, grateful to Almighty God for our constitutional liberty, establish this Constitution…
• Georgia 1777, Preamble: We, the people of Georgia, relying upon protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution…
• Hawaii 1959, Preamble: We , the people of Hawaii, Grateful for Divine Guidance …. Establish this Constitution.
• Idaho 1889, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Idaho, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings.
• Illinois 1870, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
• Indiana 1851, Preamble: We, the People of the State of Indiana, grateful to Almighty God for the free exercise of the right to choose our form of government.
• Iowa 1857, Preamble: We, the People of the State of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the blessings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him for a continuation of these blessings establish this Constitution.
• Kansas 1859, Preamble: We, the people of Kansas, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious privileges establish this Constitution.
• Kentucky 1891, Preamble: We, the people of the Commonwealth are grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties…
• Louisiana 1921, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Louisiana, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political and religious liberties we enjoy.
• Maine 1820, Preamble: We the People of Maine acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity … And imploring His aid and direction.
• Maryland 1776, Preamble: We, the people of the state of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty…
• Massachusetts 1780, Preamble: We…the people of Massachusetts, acknowledging with grateful hearts, the goodness of the Great Legislator of the Universe .. In the course of His Providence, an opportunity and devoutly imploring His direction
• Michigan 1908, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Michigan, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of freedom establish this Constitution.
• Minnesota, 1857, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings:
• Mississippi 1890, Preamble: We, the people of Mississippi in convention assembled, grateful to Al mighty God, and invoking His blessing on our work.
• Missouri 1845, Preamble: We, the people of Missouri, with profound reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and grateful for His goodness … Establish this Constitution .
• Montana 1889, Preamble: We, the people of Montana, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty establish this Constitution ….
• Nebraska 1875, Preamble: We, the people, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom … Establish this Constitution.
• Nevada 1864, Preamble: We the people of the State of Nevada, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom establish this Constitution
• New Hampshire 1792, Part I. Art. I. Sec. V: Every individual has a natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience.
• New Jersey 1844, Preamble: We, the people of the State of New Jersey, grateful to Almighty God for civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing on our endeavors.
• New Mexico 1911, Preamble: We, the People of New Mexico, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of liberty
• New York 1846, Preamble: We, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessings.
• North Carolina 1868, Preamble: We the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for our civil, political, and religious liberties, and acknowledging our dependence upon Him for the continuance of those
• North Dakota 1889, Preamble: We , the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, do ordain…
• Ohio 1852, Preamble: We the people of the state of Ohio, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, to secure its blessings and to promote our common
• Oklahoma 1907, Preamble: Invoking the guidance of Almighty God, in order to secure and perpetuate the blessings of liberty … establish this .
• Oregon 1857, Bill of Rights, Article I. Section 2: All men shall be secure in the Natural right, to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their consciences..
• Pennsylvania 1776, Preamble: We, the people of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance
• Rhode Island 1842, Preamble: We the People of the State of Rhode Island grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing
• South Carolina, 1778, Preamble: We, the people of he State of South Carolina grateful to God for our liberties, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
• South Dakota 1889, Preamble: We, the people of South Dakota, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberties
• Tennessee 1796, Art. XI.III: That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their conscience…
• Texas 1845, Preamble: We the People of the Republic of Texas, acknowledging, with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God.
• Utah 1896, Preamble: Grateful to Almighty God for life and liberty, we establish this Constitution.
• Vermont 1777, Preamble: Whereas all government ought to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights, and other blessings which the Author of Existence has bestowed on man ..
• Virginia 1776, Bi ll of Rights, XVI: Religion, or the Duty which we owe our Creator can be directed only by Reason and that it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian Forbearance, Love and Charity towards each other
• Washington 1889, Preamble: We the People of the State of Washington, grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution
• West Virginia 1872, Preamble: Since through Divine Providence we enjoy the blessings of civil, political and religious liberty, we, the people of West Virginia reaffirm our faith in and constant reliance upon God ..
• Wisconsin 1848, Preamble: We, the people of Wisconsin, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, domestic tranquility
• Wyoming 1890, Preamble: We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political, and religious liberties .. establish this Constitution.

What is it again that the ACLU is fighting for?.. and where do we get the idea of separation of church and state?  Just a few quotes to put things in perspective.

by Mike Crane
Courtesy of the Southern party of Georgia.

Across our land there has been a debate and a number of political and legal battles concerning the Display of The Ten Commandments. While I am certainly in favor of Displaying God’s Laws I have been puzzled by the arguments being put forth by the ACLU and others. They claim that such Displays are unconstitutional based upon what they call, “ Separation of Church and State.” They claim that Our Founding Fathers intended to build a wall of separation between the Church and State and thus not only is the Display of God’s Laws unconstitutional but is contrary to Our Founding Father’s Principles.

Well these are certainly important arguments! If the ACLU and associates are protecting not only the Constitution but trying to implement the Principles of Our Founding Fathers then they certainly deserve some support. On the other hand if they are misrepresenting not only the Constitution but the principles of Our Founding Fathers as well, then they are simply abusing the system to force their agenda upon the citizens.

So lets find some TRUTH in this argument and debate. In this issue lets look at the Principles of Our Founding Fathers and see if we can find some TRUTH. Continue Reading »

Article VIII, Section II: No person who denies the being of God, or a future state of rewards and punishments, shall hold any office in the civil department of this State.

Article XI, Section IV: That no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under this state.

Many today would mistakenly understand the phrase “religious test” in Article XI to prohibit a requirement for an office holder to confess a general belief of God.  However as Article VIII of the constitution makes clear this was not the intent.

The phrase religious test must be understood historically to mean a denominational requirement.  Most of the founders belonged to some form of Christian denomination.  Having recently moved away from a state controlled church they did not want the power of the state to be used in legislating a specific denomination as the national religion.  They had no problems with Christians holding office, or even with the states having a religious test, they simply did not want there to be a federal denomination.  In short they wanted the freedom of conscience to believe the scriptures of the Bible without a federally mandated denomination.

What is even more amazing, as we consider the cry of those who somehow think that the 1st amendment of the federal constitution is a prohibition against an acknowledgement of God in the civic realm, is that many of the states that ratified the Bill of Rights had specific denominational requirements to hold civil office in their own state.  They did not see a conflict, with Pennsylvania being run by the Quakers, or with the Anglicans have a foot hold of power in Virginia.  It was reasonable for them to understand that people of like mind, would want to live in community together and the federal constitution allowed for that very thing through the 1st amendment.

As we consider this notion and look across our land today, we see that the liberal supreme court is forcing a state religion of atheism upon an unsuspecting populace, by declaring the 1st amendment to say exactly opposite of the original intent.  Where the founding fathers intended to acknowledge God and limit the federal government from usurping authority that belong only to the Creator of the universe, our courts have systematically undermined that intent and replaced it with the religion of humanism.