Summer is unofficially here. Memorial weekend symbolically represents the opening of summer. It is a time when families begin their camping trips, barbecues, reunions, and a host of other things. It is a three-day weekend set aside for rest, relaxation, and play. It is a weekend of no cares and no worries. Whom can we thank for this weekend? We can offer our thanks to those who gave us the real reason for this weekend. Those who gave their lives for the freedoms we hold today: The American soldier.
Memorial Day was established as a day of mourning for those who fought and died in the Civil War. Soldiers that did not want to see America torn asunder. These soldiers gave their lives trying to keep America as one nation.
As the Civil War soldiers fought to preserve the nation, another set of soldiers fought to establish a nation. These are the soldiers of the Revolutionary War. They were led in force by General George Washington.
George Washington is known as “the Father of our Nation.” He led a vastly outnumbered and outmatched upstart army to victory over the mighty British forces. He was a good tactician who knew where and when to strike. It was through his military accomplishments and his leadership that led him to be the near unanimous choice to be the first leader of this young nation.
What is not so well known, or taught, were his strong Christian convictions. George Washington was a man of deep and strong convictions. He prayed daily for hours at a time in his library. His private journals referred to God, Christ, and his own prayer life. While he was leading armies to victory and establishing a nation, he also helps establish a church.
It is not a new concept to question George Washington’s beliefs. In the 1830’s a gentleman, Jared Sparks, was compiling a biography on George Washington. Trying to find out if Washington was a Christian or not, he sent a letter to Martha Washington’s granddaughter, Nelly Custis-Lewis, asking about his faith.
Nelly, because of the death of her father, Martha’s son, she was raised in the White House while Washington was President. She lived with the Washington’s all of her childhood. She was a little surprised that someone would question her step-grandfathers beliefs. In her letter she wrote, “I should have thought it the greatest heresy to doubt his firm belief in Christianity. His life, his writings, prove that he was a Christian. He was not one of those who act or pray, ‘that they may be seen of men’ [Matthew 6:5]. He communed with his God in secret [Matthew 6:6].”
She continued in her letter, “Is it necessary that any one should certify, ‘General Washington avowed himself to me a believer in Christianity?’ As well may we question his patriotism, his heroic, disinterested devotion to his country. His mottos were, ‘Deeds, not Words‘; and, ‘For God and my Country.’”
As we approach this Memorial Day, let us remember all of those that have given their lives so that we may enjoy the freedoms that we have. Let us remember the purpose for which they served, “For God and my Country.”
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
What This Life Is All About
In this area, the local schools are ending their year. The final recognition for the students comes in the form of graduation. For any graduate it becomes a time of transition. For the ones graduating from high school, the transition is greater. It is a symbol of maturation. Many graduating students will move to other cities to continue their education. Some will enter into the armed forces to serve their country. Still others will enter into the workforce. One thing is certain; they are no longer children, but adults.
One question will generally arise while they are in pursuit of their calling. What is this life all about? Is it about making the most money and acquiring the most items? Is it having a family and meeting their wants and needs? Is it about serving other people? What is this life all about?
While there is no set answer that will apply to all people, there are guidelines that can help everyone find out what this life is all about.
The Pharisees asked Jesus a trick question. This question was used to trap him into denying some aspect of the law. The question was, “Which is the greatest commandment.” Jesus’ answer not only gives us insight as to what the greatest commandment is, but it also begins to answer the question, “What is this life all about?”
The Bible records Jesus answer, “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30, 31 NIV)
The first step is to “Love the Lord your God.” Primarily, God is to be the center of all that you do. Everything you do should be contingent upon seeking after God first before all things. Then the Father in Heaven will give unto you everything that you need. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV) God wants you to be blessed, seeking after Him first before all things. God has a plan for you and your life. Seeking after Him will put you on a path to find what it is He has planned for you.
The second step is to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Remember the golden rule: Treat others, as you would want to be treated. You should treat all other people with respect. You should strive to treat people with humility and grace. Look to the interests of others as well as your own as the Bible states, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3, 4 NIV)
Following these two steps will help you to understand what this life is all about. It will help guide you in the direction that you need to go for your own life. God will give you what you need, to do what you need, to succeed in understanding what this life is all about, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV)
One question will generally arise while they are in pursuit of their calling. What is this life all about? Is it about making the most money and acquiring the most items? Is it having a family and meeting their wants and needs? Is it about serving other people? What is this life all about?
While there is no set answer that will apply to all people, there are guidelines that can help everyone find out what this life is all about.
The Pharisees asked Jesus a trick question. This question was used to trap him into denying some aspect of the law. The question was, “Which is the greatest commandment.” Jesus’ answer not only gives us insight as to what the greatest commandment is, but it also begins to answer the question, “What is this life all about?”
The Bible records Jesus answer, “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30, 31 NIV)
The first step is to “Love the Lord your God.” Primarily, God is to be the center of all that you do. Everything you do should be contingent upon seeking after God first before all things. Then the Father in Heaven will give unto you everything that you need. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV) God wants you to be blessed, seeking after Him first before all things. God has a plan for you and your life. Seeking after Him will put you on a path to find what it is He has planned for you.
The second step is to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Remember the golden rule: Treat others, as you would want to be treated. You should treat all other people with respect. You should strive to treat people with humility and grace. Look to the interests of others as well as your own as the Bible states, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3, 4 NIV)
Following these two steps will help you to understand what this life is all about. It will help guide you in the direction that you need to go for your own life. God will give you what you need, to do what you need, to succeed in understanding what this life is all about, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV)
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Dare To Be Daniel
To paraphrase Hamlets most famous soliloquy, “To pray or not to pray, that is the question.” Prayer is possibly the single most important duty a Christian can do. Everything done by a Christian must begin with prayer. Prayer is a powerful tool. The best way to halt a believer is to halt their prayer.
Many years ago, Daniel was a prophet. He was a wise and powerful man. No evil thought or deed was found in him. He was so full of godly wisdom that the king sought his counsel almost daily. This infuriated all the other administrators. They were so upset that they sought to have him removed. Yet, because they could not find any corruption in him, they had to fine a different way to have him deposed. They sought to halt his praying.
The administrators created a law that for thirty days the only prayers that could be offered up, must be offered to the king. The punishment was not going to be a small or even a large fine. It was not going to be community service or jail time. The punishment was to be death by den of lions.
When Daniel heard this law, did he say, “That’s the law, I guess I will stop praying to God for thirty days. I must obey the law or else I will die.” No. Daniel understood that you must obey God and not man. The Bible states, “But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. ” (Daniel 6:10 NLT) Daniel did not stop praying, he continued to pray as he had always done.
Long story shortened. The administrators caught him and threw him to the lions. Because of his dedication, God delivered Daniel.
Thursday May 6th is the National Day of Prayer and there are people that want to end this day of prayer. They claim that the Constitution explicitly forbids the government from recognizing any form of religious service, which includes prayer.
Setting aside a day of prayer goes as far back in history as our own nations founding. The Constitution was ratified on September 17, 1787. Two years later, in September 1789, Congress asked President George Washington to “recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a Constitution of government for their safety and happiness.” This Congress would understand and know what the Constitution would allow and forbid. They were the ones who established it. While this act did not establish the National Day of Prayer, it did establish another holiday. “A day of public thanksgiving and prayer . . . of Almighty God.” This act set the foundation for the establishment of Thanksgiving as a national holiday. A day to give thanks and to offer prayer to Almighty God. The first Congress established a day for prayer, thus a National Day of Prayer can not be unconstitutional.
John Adams was always calling for a National Day of Prayer. Thomas Jefferson also followed suit. James Madison (who was one of the primary writers of the Constitution and was the principle author of the Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments)) many times called the nation to pray to the Almighty God. He helped sponsor the aforementioned Congressional summons to Washington. Do you think he would know what the Constitution would allow and disallow? What about other Presidents?
On March 30, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that designated the day of April 30, 1863 as a day of "national humiliation, fasting and prayer.”
On April 17, 1952, President Harry S Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer must be declared by each following president at an appropriate date of his choice. In 1982 a National Prayer Committee formed to coordinate and implement a fixed commemorated day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended so that the National Day of Prayer would be held on the first Thursday of May.
Will Christians sit idly by while people try to strip government from establishing a day for prayer? Or will Christians be like Daniel and defy those who would want to strip away prayer. Dare to be Daniel.
Many years ago, Daniel was a prophet. He was a wise and powerful man. No evil thought or deed was found in him. He was so full of godly wisdom that the king sought his counsel almost daily. This infuriated all the other administrators. They were so upset that they sought to have him removed. Yet, because they could not find any corruption in him, they had to fine a different way to have him deposed. They sought to halt his praying.
The administrators created a law that for thirty days the only prayers that could be offered up, must be offered to the king. The punishment was not going to be a small or even a large fine. It was not going to be community service or jail time. The punishment was to be death by den of lions.
When Daniel heard this law, did he say, “That’s the law, I guess I will stop praying to God for thirty days. I must obey the law or else I will die.” No. Daniel understood that you must obey God and not man. The Bible states, “But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. ” (Daniel 6:10 NLT) Daniel did not stop praying, he continued to pray as he had always done.
Long story shortened. The administrators caught him and threw him to the lions. Because of his dedication, God delivered Daniel.
Thursday May 6th is the National Day of Prayer and there are people that want to end this day of prayer. They claim that the Constitution explicitly forbids the government from recognizing any form of religious service, which includes prayer.
Setting aside a day of prayer goes as far back in history as our own nations founding. The Constitution was ratified on September 17, 1787. Two years later, in September 1789, Congress asked President George Washington to “recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging, with grateful hearts, the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a Constitution of government for their safety and happiness.” This Congress would understand and know what the Constitution would allow and forbid. They were the ones who established it. While this act did not establish the National Day of Prayer, it did establish another holiday. “A day of public thanksgiving and prayer . . . of Almighty God.” This act set the foundation for the establishment of Thanksgiving as a national holiday. A day to give thanks and to offer prayer to Almighty God. The first Congress established a day for prayer, thus a National Day of Prayer can not be unconstitutional.
John Adams was always calling for a National Day of Prayer. Thomas Jefferson also followed suit. James Madison (who was one of the primary writers of the Constitution and was the principle author of the Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments)) many times called the nation to pray to the Almighty God. He helped sponsor the aforementioned Congressional summons to Washington. Do you think he would know what the Constitution would allow and disallow? What about other Presidents?
On March 30, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that designated the day of April 30, 1863 as a day of "national humiliation, fasting and prayer.”
On April 17, 1952, President Harry S Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer must be declared by each following president at an appropriate date of his choice. In 1982 a National Prayer Committee formed to coordinate and implement a fixed commemorated day of prayer. In 1988, the law was amended so that the National Day of Prayer would be held on the first Thursday of May.
Will Christians sit idly by while people try to strip government from establishing a day for prayer? Or will Christians be like Daniel and defy those who would want to strip away prayer. Dare to be Daniel.
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