Thanksgiving has got to be the best American holiday! People of all nationalities and religions gathering to give thanks to God for the many blessings we have.
Let's go back in history and read the words of our first president as he gave the first formal proclamation of Thanksgiving in America. The year was 1789, the place was New York City
“ 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 to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "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 form of government for their safety and happiness.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
George Washington
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Contagious!
There is a great line from Og Mandino's classic book The Greatest Salesman In The World. It is in the third scroll on page 64 and simply says this... "I hear not those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious."
The truth is, our attitude and speech, positively or negatively expressed, is contagious! Scripture tells us in Proverbs 13:3 that when we guard our lips we guard our life. I suggest we take it even one step further, when we guard our lips we guard our nation's life!
Politicians, business people and leaders across the country are speaking gloom, despair and economic agony. I don't believe that is helpful to our national attitude. If I am sick, I don't need people standing around telling me how I'm on the brink of death!
Americans don't hang their heads when faced with a problem, we seek and speak solutions. We don't talk about out bad it is but how good it's going to be. Positive action and positive outlook is what built this country and what will continue to build it.
If we are going to be infected by contagious talk, let it be a contagious hope, a contagious confidence and a contagious belief that America may be down but not out, struck down but not destroyed!
The truth is, our attitude and speech, positively or negatively expressed, is contagious! Scripture tells us in Proverbs 13:3 that when we guard our lips we guard our life. I suggest we take it even one step further, when we guard our lips we guard our nation's life!
Politicians, business people and leaders across the country are speaking gloom, despair and economic agony. I don't believe that is helpful to our national attitude. If I am sick, I don't need people standing around telling me how I'm on the brink of death!
Americans don't hang their heads when faced with a problem, we seek and speak solutions. We don't talk about out bad it is but how good it's going to be. Positive action and positive outlook is what built this country and what will continue to build it.
If we are going to be infected by contagious talk, let it be a contagious hope, a contagious confidence and a contagious belief that America may be down but not out, struck down but not destroyed!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Finding The Good
If we'll look around this country we'll begin to see some wonderful people with values.
Last weekend we were in Tempe, AZ and we took time Sunday morning to worship at the First Baptist Church. The service centered on honoring our soldiers and thanking our God for liberty we have. We sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic, God Bless America and My Country Tis of Thee and then we pledged allegiance to the Unites States of America. It was encouraging! It was refreshing and Lucy & I were overwhelmed with emotion as we realized that this was happening all over our country.
Soldiers past and present were asked to stand and be recognized. Pictures, new and dated, were shown on the overhead. Every person within that church, male and female, who served their country through the military was recognized and appreciated. Soldiers addressed the congregation and real community was built and felt....this all happened five days ago....the reverberations are still plucking our heartstrings!
Values are not just reserved for holidays. Workweeks have them too! This morning I took our van into Mike's Auto Repair in Kansas for some minor adjusting. Mike wears a headband and rides a Harley and...starts everyday with prayer with the employees of his shop!
These kind of things are so commonplace in America that they aren't considered "news" but if you'll take a moment to look around, you'll see people with values. Oops! Did you see that? That little girl and her daddy just said grace before they had their burger and fries. Keep your eyes open and you're sure to find good all over America.
Last weekend we were in Tempe, AZ and we took time Sunday morning to worship at the First Baptist Church. The service centered on honoring our soldiers and thanking our God for liberty we have. We sang The Battle Hymn of the Republic, God Bless America and My Country Tis of Thee and then we pledged allegiance to the Unites States of America. It was encouraging! It was refreshing and Lucy & I were overwhelmed with emotion as we realized that this was happening all over our country.
Soldiers past and present were asked to stand and be recognized. Pictures, new and dated, were shown on the overhead. Every person within that church, male and female, who served their country through the military was recognized and appreciated. Soldiers addressed the congregation and real community was built and felt....this all happened five days ago....the reverberations are still plucking our heartstrings!
Values are not just reserved for holidays. Workweeks have them too! This morning I took our van into Mike's Auto Repair in Kansas for some minor adjusting. Mike wears a headband and rides a Harley and...starts everyday with prayer with the employees of his shop!
These kind of things are so commonplace in America that they aren't considered "news" but if you'll take a moment to look around, you'll see people with values. Oops! Did you see that? That little girl and her daddy just said grace before they had their burger and fries. Keep your eyes open and you're sure to find good all over America.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Not My Candidate But...He's My President!
The election of the 44th president of the United States is finally past and my guy lost!
Now I sit, as do over 55 million voters who supported John McCain, with a decision to make. Do we whine, complain and argue for the next four years or do we support our president-elect Barack Obama and get this country back on its feet?
Paul reminds us in Titus 3:1 to be subject to our rulers and authorities, to be obedient and to be ready to do whatever is good. We don't have to jettison our values, we can continue to stand for adoption and life and work to see that marriage is defined as a spiritual and civil union between a man and a woman. We are not, however, to rebel for rebellion sake.
It is our duty as citizens of America and as children of God to support our newly elected leaders as best we can and do good when we can. If your blood pressure is still too high because of post electionitis to actively support them right now, then quietly pray for them and for their families.
As we try our best to work with them, to listen to them, to understand them...we become a light and they begin to see our point of view and a bridge is built and unity is established.
We had a choice at the polls. We have a choice now...unity or discord, Gods' love at work or ugly divisiveness. There's only one road to travel for Americans...the high road! In God We Trust, United We Stand!
Now I sit, as do over 55 million voters who supported John McCain, with a decision to make. Do we whine, complain and argue for the next four years or do we support our president-elect Barack Obama and get this country back on its feet?
Paul reminds us in Titus 3:1 to be subject to our rulers and authorities, to be obedient and to be ready to do whatever is good. We don't have to jettison our values, we can continue to stand for adoption and life and work to see that marriage is defined as a spiritual and civil union between a man and a woman. We are not, however, to rebel for rebellion sake.
It is our duty as citizens of America and as children of God to support our newly elected leaders as best we can and do good when we can. If your blood pressure is still too high because of post electionitis to actively support them right now, then quietly pray for them and for their families.
As we try our best to work with them, to listen to them, to understand them...we become a light and they begin to see our point of view and a bridge is built and unity is established.
We had a choice at the polls. We have a choice now...unity or discord, Gods' love at work or ugly divisiveness. There's only one road to travel for Americans...the high road! In God We Trust, United We Stand!
Monday, November 3, 2008
It's Happening All Over America
Election coverage is going to be frantic over these next two days but there is one thing you may NOT hear reported. People are praying for our country like never before...they're not praying for the Democrats and they're not praying for the Republicans...they are praying for America!
I went to the International House of Prayer this morning and found everyone praying for the candidates...all of them...and their families! John & Sara, Joe & Barack. It was the first time I noticed people treating the candidates like people and the first time I heard people putting values above policies. Then it dawned on me that this is not an exceptional case. There are houses of prayer springing up all over our nation as our people are turning back to God.
You may not hear about it on television nor read about it in the newspaper but a great tsunami of prayer is beginning to roll over our country. Values are being re-established and America is returning to God!
I went to the International House of Prayer this morning and found everyone praying for the candidates...all of them...and their families! John & Sara, Joe & Barack. It was the first time I noticed people treating the candidates like people and the first time I heard people putting values above policies. Then it dawned on me that this is not an exceptional case. There are houses of prayer springing up all over our nation as our people are turning back to God.
You may not hear about it on television nor read about it in the newspaper but a great tsunami of prayer is beginning to roll over our country. Values are being re-established and America is returning to God!
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