by Terry Laughlin | Apr 12, 2016 | Patriotism
God Rules Over Nations
Psalms 22:28 says, “for dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations.” The King James Bibles says, “…He is the governor among nations.”
America needs God to restore our Supreme Court system to making decisions like the one made in 1892, “Our laws and our institution must necessarily be based upon and embody the teaching of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and institutions are emphatically Christian. This is a religious people. This is historically true. From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making affirmation. We find everywhere a clear recognition of the same truth. These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial utterance that this is a Christian nation.” (Justice Brewer delivered the opinion of the court on February 29, 1892)
In the late 1950’s the former Chief Justice Earl Warren, addressing the annual prayer breakfast of the International Council of Christian Leadership said, “I believe no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the Good Book [the Bible] and the spirit of the Savior [Jesus Christ] have from the beginning been our guiding geniuses. Whether we look to the first Charter of Virginia or to the Charter of New England or to the Charter of Massachusetts Bay or to the Foundational Orders of Connecticut, the same objective is present: A Christian land governed by Christian Principles. I believe the entire Bill of rights came into being because of the knowledge our forefathers had of the Bible and their belief in it: freedom of belief, of expression, of assembly, of petition, the dignity of the individual, the sanctity of the home, equal justice under the law, and the reservation of powers to the people. I like to believe we are living today in the spirit of the Christian religion.”
Psalms 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He chose for His inheritance.”
The lack of hunger for God’s Word, the living for self, the influences of this world views, the lack of knowledge of our founding father’s efforts to please the Lord in governing this nation has caused many Americans to loose sight, “God Rules Over Nations.” This fact is seen in declarations made by several national leaders, “Americans do not consider ourselves a Christian nation” in attempt at historical revisionism. Chief Justice William Rehnquist wisely observed, “No amount of repetition of historical error… can make the error true.” (Wallace v. Jaffree, 472 U. S. 38, 106-107 (1984), Rehnquist, J.)
Americans need to become wise – they need to do the hard work of study, find out what our founding father truly believed. Take God at His Word, repent, turn to Christ and beseech God to intervene for our nation once again.
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 12, 2016 | Patriotism
To Christians:
Are You Fireworks or Eternal Flames?
There’s something magical about those brilliant colors exploding against the dark sky. But there’s a problem with fireworks. They don’t last. They go up, burst brightly, make some noise and disappear even as the “oohs and ahs” fade away. The same is true of many of the “fireworks” experiences in our lives. We fight and struggle for things that seem beautiful and alluring, but after we get them, their appeal disappears, just like fireworks. Maybe it’s a shiny new car or speedboat. Maybe it’s a big, impressive house. It might even be a promotion at work or a prestigious career.
So many of the things of this world are like fireworks. They promise happiness and fulfillment but can’t deliver. TV commercials play on our emotions, making us believe that if we drive a certain kind of SUV or clean our floors with their super-efficient mop, we’ll be happy at last. More often than not, all we feel is disillusioned.
If you’ve had enough of these “fireworks” experiences and the letdowns that follow, I challenge you to pursue the only thing in life that doesn’t disappoint: a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The astounding thing about loving God is that it actually gets better every day. Once you give your heart to Jesus, you’ll have joy and contentment that lasts into eternity, and you’ll never want to go back to “fireworks” experiences again. Pursue being an “eternal flame” Christian.
It was a torridly hot afternoon on July 3, 1938, when former Union and Confederate soldiers met to dedicate the “Peace Eternal in a Nation United” memorial on the Gettysburg, PA battlefield during the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the battle. President Franklin D. Roosevelt lit the eternal flame.
Probably the most well-known in the U.S., the eternal flame to commemorate President Kennedy in the United States lighted in 1963, was the first time in the world that an individual person was given such an honor.
Eternal flames exist nature as well, as by-products of natural gas deposits leaking through the ground.So, the question is raised: Are you a “fireworks” Christian, burning brightly, quickly, when emotions are high, but fizzling out as quickly when trials and temptations come? Or are you an “eternal flame” Christian that walks faithfully with God every day, all the days of your life as an authentic “light of the world?” (Matthew 5: 14)
“The Father … does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of all He created.” (James 1:-17-18)
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 12, 2016 | Patriotism
Beseeching for a Spiritual Awakening
Unlike the spiritual and political leaders of Israel, a nation that is vigilant has Christians and leaders who are not blinded by their sin. People who have a Biblical understanding about the heart of mankind find joy in what the prophet Joel wrote, “Even now, declares the Lord, return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning… Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” (Joel 2:12-13)
The phrase, “Return to the Lord your God” was well known to Israel and is illuminated in the heart of the born again Christian. This phrase testifies to a conventional relationship between God and mankind whom have come to God in Christ’s name in a heart of repentance. True repentance leads a people and a nation to enjoying the graciousness and compassion of the Lord, which enables a vigilant nation to rest in the abounding love of God.
A vigilant nation has leaders like Abraham Lincoln who designated Thursday, April 30, 1863 as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer. He wrote, “It is the duty of nations as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth announced in Holy Scriptures and proven in all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord. The awful calamity of the Civil War that now desolates the land may be but punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to bring us to a needful national reformation as a whole people. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity to pray and too proud to pray to the God who made us. It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves, before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and prayer for clemency and forgiveness.”
Americans Become Vigilant
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 12, 2016 | Prayer Guides
Under-girded in Prayer
A nation that is vigilant has Christians who take to heart 1 Timothy 2:1-2, “I urge, then, first of all, that request, prayers, intersession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” The Apostle Paul used the word “urge” (parakaleo) meaning to exhort with urgency. He wrote “first of all” meaning that prayer for those in leadership is of primary importance in the church, a very essential part of public worship.
Christians are to pray for those in leadership positions. Republicans are to be praying for Democrats and democrats are to be praying for Republicans. The heart of God is not for Republicans to be praying for more Republicans and Democrats praying for more Democrats, but that Christians pray for Statesmen who have the heart of prayer that our Founding Fathers had.
When this nation has been attacked, in great danger or in times of making key choices about the direction of her future, the Lord has raised up men of faith in Christ who were men of prayer. A vigilant nation desires leaders like George Washington who prayed, “Bless O lord the whole race of mankind, and let the world be filled with the knowledge of Thee and Thy Son, Jesus Christ.” Leaders like Abraham Lincoln who served our nation in its bloodiest war, his prayer, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go to and my own wisdom… seemed insufficient for the day.”
The Pentecostal Evangel ran the story of Eliza Gurney whom had Holy Spirit compassion for President Lincoln. She had long prayed for the opportunity to meet President Lincoln and pray with him personally. In October 1862 the Lord brought that visit about. This prayer opportunity was granted because her heart’s desire was not to correct or give the President advice, but only to pray for him. This prayer visit was recorded in Lincoln’s personal papers. Under-gird Our Leaders in Prayer!
by Terry Laughlin | Apr 12, 2016 | Patriotism
Spiritual Truth In The Folding Of The American Flag
Have you ever taken time to watch the flag being folded and then handed to a loved one at the graveside of a military serviceman/woman who gave their life in service to this country. I have often wondered if there was any meaning to each fold. Research shows that there is no official nor required meaning that should be given as the American Flag is being folded. (TruthOrFiction.com; Snope.com) However, there is no shortage of scripts available that can be read aloud during a flag folding. There is a meaning of the 13 folds of the folding of the American Flag that is not without importance. This script has an unknown author, however reflects a spiritual heart that has a Biblical understand of the heart of God, the heart of mankind and truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This writing shows a Holy Spirit enlightenment of the whole of Scripture: The American Flag is Folded Thirteen Times
“The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life. The second fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life. The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world. The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His Divine guidance. The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, ‘Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.’ The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic. The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on Mother’s Day. The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded. The tenth fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born. The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. With the final fold the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding us of our nation’s motto, ‘In God We Trust.'”
“Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” (Romans 13:7)
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