One Nation Under God

If you believe that our nation should be "one nation under God" you have got to hear Red Skelton's explanation of the pledge of allegiance. Click on the link below and turn up your speakers:

http://patriotfiles.org/Pledge.htm

Pilgrims in a Strange Land

This is an amazing video that illustrates the journey that Christians are making through this life. We must all realize that we are only pilgrims passing through a strange land on our way home. We must have the same faith as our father Abraham--"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:8-10).

Is America Rejecting God?

Yesterday (Thursday, July 12, 2007), the United States Senate was opened with a prayer led by a Hindu chaplain from Nevada (see story). He began his prayer by saying, "Let us pray. We meditate on the transcendental glory of the deity supreme who is inside the heart of the Earth, inside the life of the sky, and inside the soul of the heaven." Hinduism is a pantheistic religion that believes in many different gods. We claim to be "one nation under God" and yet there is man asking for the wisdom and guidance from false gods for our governing officials. Rajan Zed, who led the prayer, was invited by Democratic Senate Majority leader Harry Reid. Reid is the first Mormon to serve as Senate Majority leader.

Both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate have opened with a prayer to God since the Constitutional Convention of 1787. This is the first time in 220 years that the government of the United States has begun its meetings with a prayer to pagan gods. The only three protesters were led away in handcuffs. In a similar story, Muslim Representative Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota) compared President Bush to Hitler (see story).

The true and living God is a jealous God who will not tolerate his people having other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3-5). Prayer in a nation's government to false gods is effectively a prayer to the true God to punish us. The success of the United States is no doubt because of the fact that we have been "one nation under God." The Founding Fathers of our country believed that the "Great Experiment" of America was due to the Providence of God. In 1854 the U.S. House Judiciary Committee made the statement, "In this age, there can be no substitute for Christianity. That was the religion of the founders of the republic and they expected it to remain the religion of their descendants."

Please say a prayer for our country. But don't just pray. In the words of John Hancock (signer of the Declaration of Independence), "I urge you, by all that is dear, by all that is honorable, by all that is sacred, not only that ye pray but that ye act." Please take action and write, call or email your Congressmen and Senators and express your outrage that our government would allow prayer for guidance to be directed to pagan gods (click here to find your Congressmen and Senators).

Tennessee Senators (contact information):
Lamar Alexander
455 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4944
Bob Corker
185 DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3344

Spring Hill, TN (4th District) Representative (37174-2452)
Lincoln Davis
Washington D.C. Office
410 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202.225.6831
Fax: 202.226.5172

Angels are Protecting You

Israel certainly knew all about God's protective care. God had actively guarded the nation all those years wandering through the wilderness. In a song of praise to God, Psalm 91 speaks of the care that God provides over his children:

" For you have made the LORD, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone" (Ps 91:9-12).

This is the very passage that Satan used in his effort to tempt Jesus to sin (Matt. 4:6). Likely because Satan certainly misused this passage in his tempting of Christ, we have often missed the wonderful promise that this verse of Scripture is making to God's children. God has promised to protect us, and he uses his angelic host to do so.

God assigns his angelic messengers to the care of his children, to guard and protect us. This is not just a promise made to Old Testament peoples, it is also a promise made to Christians. The writer of Hebrews tells us that angels are "ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation" (1:14).

Although the Bible does not give specifics into the activities of angels in the lives of Christians today, it is nonetheless true that angels are watching over us. How encouraging it is to know that God is using angels to protect and guard Christians today!

Worship is an Encounter with God

Today I came across an article that appeared in the Christian Chronicle (a magazine about churches of Christ) some time ago. Although, I do not agree with everything that this author says in the article, I do think he makes some great points about what worship is really all about. Read carefully what the author says:

"True worship must be more than simply an intellectual or ceremonial exercise. Much of what passes for worship is little more than the practice of ritual obligations. Without thinking, worship can be reduced to little more than "five acts" that must be satisfied in order to appease a God who is checking off his list of rules to make sure we followed the prescription correctly. With this approach to worship, the main concern becomes, "Did we do it right?" rather than "Were our hearts in tune with the Father?"Many of us grew up with a legalistic theology that emphasized the need to "be right." I heard a lot about "doing things correctly," but until my college years I heard nothing about a relationship with Christ. Religion was a list of rules to be kept, a lifestyle to be adopted. It was primarily based on a rational approach to God; emotions were disparaged and viewed suspiciously. Even if we felt emotions welling up inside, most of us understood we needed to sit on our hands and choke down those feelings. Obviously, we need a strong theology based on truth. We must engage our minds to the fullest. Worship based primarily on emotion is both dangerous and shallow. But theologically correct worship lacking emotion is cold, lifeless, and powerless. Such worship employs the head, but cuts the heart out of it. A genuine encounter with God in worship requires both our mind and our emotions. Admittedly, we do not always feel like worship. It is at those times that worship is more a decision of our will than the desire of our heart. However, worship that is regularly void of passion is unlike the worship I read about in Scripture.There is a part of us that needs to be filled up, to be comforted, to be overwhelmed with wonder, and to be lifted up in the exhilaration of praise. It might be possible for a husband and wife to approach their relationship from a purely rational perspective, to analyze it and diagram it intellectually. However, if that is as deep as the relationship ever goes, which of us would want it? A relationship based primarily on feelings is immature and shallow. Certainly, a healthy relationship is grounded in knowledge and truth and good judgment. But it also needs some passion —- an extravagant love, a heart-felt emotion that yearns to be near that person and to enjoy the intimacy of their companionship (Ps 42:1-2; 63:1-5; Phil. 1:21-26).The worship found in many congregations is lifeless and without the kind of passion that touches our heart and soul. The clinical style of worship that reduces the assembly to "three songs and a prayer" did not come from Scripture. Biblical examples of worship run counter to the way worship is done in many of our congregations. Examples of worship in Scripture are often filled with excitement, vivacious enthusiasm and animated activity."

I'm afraid that too often our worship is merely designed to go through the same ritual week after week to fulfill our "requirement." Worship, as taught in the New Testament, is to be an encounter with God, where we fall down before Him in praise. Worship involves mind, heart and soul. It should involve all of our minds and all of our hearts (John 4:24). May God speed the day when we start organizing our worship services to be a stirring mental and emotional experience where we feel we have come into the presence of God (see 1 Cor. 14:25).

If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It?

By Jonathan Jones II

July 2007, Spring Hill, TN

Things we can see clearly in real life often escape our notice when it comes to spiritual matters. Jesus used earthly stories to make spiritual truths clear. Wisdom from everyday life can help us see things clearly.

The two farmers both began farming the fertile soil of Middle Tennessee fifty years ago. Farmer Smith and Farmer Jones were both hard workers who labored from “sun up to sun down.” Both of them had new plows and young strong mules to pull them. The two neighbors had years of friendly competition as to who could bring in the biggest crop of corn. Each year they both harvested nearly the same amount.

As the years past, the world progressed and technology advanced. Farmer Smith purchased a John Deere tractor and a wider plow. Farmer Jones, unwilling to change with the times, continued to use his mule-powered plow. “Why should I buy one of those tractors? I can still bring in a crop with my mule and plow,” Jones reasoned. And so both farmers continued to raise their corn. But each year, Smith had larger and larger harvests than did Jones. Soon Farmer Jones became rather jealous of Smith’s large yields. Smith tried to convince his friend to consider buying one of the new tractors. “You will be able to till much more ground and produce a much larger crop,” Smith said to Jones. “My mule-drawn plow still produces a crop,” Jones said. “I still get a harvest, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?” And so both farmers continued to raise crops of corn. Jones kept using his antiquated methods. He produced a harvest, but it was small. Smith, using new methods and approaches produced a very large harvest. Both men were doing the same thing—raising corn. But the results were different because one was willing to use new effective methods while the other refused to adapt.

This parable is often repeated within the church. The message of God’s word must not be compromised; we must continue to plant the same seed. Yet, the results we get will depend upon whether we are willing to adapt our methods of planting to be effective with the culture in which we live. Congregations that use methods of the church of the fifties will still get a harvest, but it will be small. Churches that are willing to adapt and try new methods to reach the contemporary culture will reap a larger harvest. Something does not have to be broke to fix it. Some things that are working can be improved upon. Let us not be caught using a mule-drawn plow in a tractor world.

We're Getting Married!

Well it was a long time coming! But the LORD finally answered my prayers. I have been bugging Him for years to send me someone. I was probably as irritating to him as that troublesome widow (Luke 18:1-8). In His own time, he sent me someone that can help me along life's pathway and help me get to heaven.

Michelle is one of the most spiritual women I have ever met. She challenges me to be a more spiritual person. I thank God for her everyday.

We have set our wedding date for October 26, 2007. We are currently registered at Kohl's and Target.

View the registries on line:

Kohl's Registry
Target Registry

If My Nose Was Running Money

Anyone that knows me very well knows that I love to laugh. Laughter really is the best medicine. "A merry heart is good medicine," in the words of inspired Scripture (Prov. 17:22). A "cheerful heart is a continual feast" (Prov. 15:15). My friend and brother Phil Sanders sent me this link. I hope you laugh as hard as I did!

Prayer of Children

There is nothing more spiritually moving than to listen to a little child pray to God. Jesus said that we must be converted and become innocent like little children to enter heaven (Matt. 18:3). This video inspires us to consider the prayer of children.