In God We Trust

Four little words - In God We Trust. One simple question - Do we?

The United States of America has this 'In God We Trust' slogan printed on its money. But do we really trust in God. I'm not sure all of us do. Some want to remove this slogan from our currency. Atheists, to be sure. They worship only themselves.

We, as a nation, celebrated our independence yesterday. Our independence from what? Well, the British, who tried imposing their religious beliefs on an entire nation. Our nation was founded on religious freedom.

Now, however, we are beginning to see our nation entertaining ideas contrary to our religious beliefs. It has gotten so far that our law makers are making laws against these religious freedoms. Thankfully these laws have been ruled unconstitutional by our nation's Supreme Court.

What will happen when your nation's highest court becomes "packed" with liberal minds who oppose religion? As president Ronald Reagan once said, ""Without God, democracy will not and cannot long endure. If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

Amen to that!

So, is it time for another revolutionary war? Not quite yet, I think. You see, we who believe have the Lord God Almighty on our side. What do we have to fear concerning mere men?

Still, it is disheartening to see God's will for us contradicted and removed and then the opposite instituted in our society as law.

President Obama once said that we are "no longer a Christian nation." Sadly, I think he is right. We have strayed from the plan our forefathers envisioned - "One nation, under God. Indivisible."

We ARE a nation that has become divided. God is mocked in places He once was worshiped in. SO, what do we do? Are you willing to fight? Our answer to that question should be 'no.' Are we willing to die? Our answer to THAT question should be 'yes.'

There is one true God. He is not Buddha, He is not Allah. He is God, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. Let us celebrate our independence from the lies being held up as truth. Let us praise and worship our risen King. The truth will set us free. And, one day, we shall be free indeed.

"Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”

39“Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. 40As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41You are doing the works of your own father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.

42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." - John 8:34-44

Time For Another Revolution?

Today we celebrate Independence Day.

"Independence? Independence from what? I thought we were a free nation."

We are . . . but it has not always been that way. We were once governed by the oppressive British Government and, in fact, we were at war with them already when we finally declared ourselves independent.

There is something really interesting about our declaration. It gives us the right to . . . rebel against our own government. I'm serious. Read it for yourself!

"when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government."

The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution also gives us the right to take up arms against our own government if they too become oppressive like the British were.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

Our forefathers did NOT like being oppressed. We're not much different than they were.

When I look at our two remaining candidates for president, the first thought that comes to mind is, "You've GOT to be kidding?" We can't do better than this? Hillary is being investigated by the FBI and Trump . . . well, he's just somebody who isn't from Washington.

There are many people who believe that our federal government is out of control. I am one of them. Is it time for a revolution? Yes, it is!! But not a political one. We need a spiritual revolution.

No government takes control without God allowing it. He has allowed the mess we are currently experiencing in Washington to exist. Why? Well, honestly I think it's because we deserve it. We are no longer a God-honoring nation and now we are paying the price for our disobedience. And if you think things are bad in Washington now, they're going to get worse.

What we need is another revolution in this country - a spiritual revolution. We need a revival! And the only way we can get that is for "we the people" to take up arms . . . not with guns but with Bibles in our hands. But our biggest weapon isn't muzzle-loaders or cannons set high upon the hills. It's isn't BOOTS on the ground. It is KNEES on the ground. In prayer.

We need to pray and we need to take action, not with 2nd amendment weaponry, but with Spirit-led determination. If we are in God's will, this country will return to the greatness we once had, but that will only happen is God blesses us.

The Bible tell us what to do. We need to humble ourselves before the Lord. We must pray and we must turn from our wicked ways (repent). Only then will God bless America.

"14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:15

God Bless America - Celine Dion




Hi-Res Image of The Declaration of Independence

The REAL Independence Day

I have lived in this country all of my life. I was born here. I was raised here. I will die here. There is a certain pride that comes from being an American. We are free. We have set for ourselves a government of the people, by the people and for the people. At least that's how it's supposed to be.

239 years ago we declared our Independence from Great Britain. The history books tell us there was great tyranny by the British - a remote government trying to maintain its control over a distant colony.

I would like you to watch a video. It's not that long, but it contains a reading of the Declaration of Independence. I would like you to watch it and see if you notice the same thing I did.

The Real Independence Day  

After watching that video, did you feel that certain sense of pride? I did. What has happened to that feeling in our country? Where has it gone? We still shoot off fire works on the 4th of July around here but sometimes we do it on the 3rd or the 5th - whatever suites our convenience. And that is the real problem isn't it. It's all about . . . us. It's not so much about the U.S. anymore. It's about us. Not our forefathers. It's not about the ones who sacrificed so much so that we could have our freedom . . . our independence. It's just another excuse to party and watch while other people blow things up.

The further and further I see our country drift away from what we used to be, the more I need to remind myself that I no longer belong here. Yes, I will physically be here but my heart and soul are no longer limited by earthly boundaries. I am no longer a Wisconsinite, an American, or even an earthling. I am a Christian. I am child of God. This place is not my home.

The founders of our country had great plans for this country and in many ways we are still a great nation, but we have lost our direction. We have lost our compass, especially our moral compass and our spiritual compass. We have begun listening to ourselves and not to God. And, quite honestly, I think God has removed His hand of protection from us and we are being punished for our sins.

On this Independence Day, my prayer is that we return to the principles that made this country stand out from the crowd. We still have many of those characteristics. But I pray we would return to a God-honoring nation. One who obey God's commands. A nation that does not sacrifice it's children to the god of convenience. A nation that would honor God through our marriage'

A young friend of mine posted a link on Facebook. It asked questions of those of us who support gay marriage. One question caught my eye. It spoke to how we have lost our focus as a church. Instead of concerning oureselves with what God wants we have turned our focus inward, asking, "What do WE want?"

Question 37. As an evangelical, how has your support for gay marriage helped you become more passionate about traditional evangelical distinctives like a focus on being born again, the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ on the cross, the total trustworthiness of the Bible, and the urgent need to evangelize the lost?

Good question.

When Jesus was  about to be crucified, he prayed a prayer for his disciples. At the end of that prayer Jesus prayed this prayer for us.

20 “I do not ask for these only (the disciples), but also for those who will believe in me through their word (that's us), 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” - John 17:20-26

Heavenly Father, May this Independence Day be a day of REAL independence. May we return to you in repentance for the sins we have committed as a nation. And may we re-unite to what we once were before we began thinking so much of ourselves. May we return to you, one nation . . . under God. Amen.

I Do Not Belong - Kutless