Happy 4th of July (a little early)

I wanted to share with you an article by Thomas Sowell called "July 4th".  In it, he reminds us that July 4th is the day that the Declaration of Independence was first publicly read.  Here are some quotes from it to encourage you to read the whole thing.

Some clever people today ask whether the United States has really been "exceptional." You couldn't be more exceptional in the 18th century than to create your fundamental document -- the Constitution of the United States -- by opening with the momentous words, "We the people..."


More than a hundred years ago, so-called "Progressives" began a campaign to undermine the Constitution's strict limitations on government, which stood in the way of self-anointed political crusaders imposing their grand schemes on all the rest of us. That effort to discredit the Constitution continues to this day, and the arguments haven't really changed much in a hundred years.


I think that people who find the Bible irrelevant because it is old also find the Constitution irrelevant because it is old.  I also think that God never changes, human nature hasn't changed, and limited government is still a good idea. 

But we have gone far from our roots in this country.  We used to be a people governed by the Holy Spirit from within or at least by common sense rooted in His Word.  We used to know that God set up various governments (family, church, civil) and that each had its own authority.  I encourage us all to fall before the Lord and confess the sins of our nation.  If you would like to join others in doing this, you can go here to see congregations across the country that will be having a special time of prayer on July 3rd called Call2Fall.

Movies Worth Considering

I Want Your Money






You can find out more about this movie (in theaters now) by going to their website.




Blood Money is a documentary about the abortion industry and is now available on DVD.

The San Antonio Christian Independent Film Festival is starting October 23rd. This is the venue where people started to get excited about movies like the Widow's Might last year. Sybil Ludington is the one I am most interested in this year. Enjoy the trailer below.

Sybil Ludington Full Length Trailer from KICKS Ministries on Vimeo.

A Little American (Christian) History

This video was e-mailed to me by our missions minister. I thought it was worth sharing.

The Tabernacle Experience

My family and I just got back from the Tabernacle Experience at Inglewood Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, TX. We hadn't really planned on going. In fact, we only found out yesterday. So not really knowing what to expect, I thought it was something to look at and take pictures of. But it was a real worship experience. We were so blessed to have participated.

The tabernacle is a life-size replica of the original (of course minus the gold, sliver, and bronze). You are given a set of headphone set with an MP3 player. The narrator leads you through a worship experience that is truly unique. You are led to different areas. At each one, a connection is drawn between the Jewish experience and ours in Christ.

If there is one in your area, I suggest you go. We paid $5/person. It was very worth it. The one in Grand Prairie will only be there today and tomorrow.

Many Governments

American Vision has an interesting post today about the many governments. It is worth a read. Here are a couple of quotes to whet your appetite.

To deny the validity of the many governments and the responsibili­ties that each has under God, would be to deny the authority that belongs to each of them in the realm of their activity. If we as individuals neglect our personal governing duties, then we can expect the state to assume the role of all other legitimate governments and claim to be the sole gov­ernment, while labeling all others as counterfeits. Therefore, to see the state as the only governing institution “is destructive of liberty and of life.”

Institutions and civil governments are made up of people who are governed by the condition of their hearts. If the heart is in rebellion against God, we can expect undisciplined and ungovern­able people. If the heart has been made new in Christ, we can expect a people who will govern their lives according to the governing principles of Scripture.

Memorial Day

As we honor those that gave their lives for our freedom, I thought I would bring a certain cause to your attention.

There is a case in California where the ACLU is trying to get the Mohave Desert Memorial Cross removed. This monument to our war dead has stood for 75 years. The ACLU first succeeded in putting a bag over the cross. Now it is surrounded by plywood. If they have their way, it will soon be demolished.

There is an organization that is fighting to save not only this cross but all war memorials that have religious aspects. The website is DontTearMeDown.com.

George Washington and Thanksgiving

Did you know that the first presidential proclamation was about giving thanks to God? Here it is in its entirety. I did change the f's into s's where appropriate.

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 favour; 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 PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and 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 TWENTY-SIXTH 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 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 enable 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 favours which He has 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 publick or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a bleffing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wife, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, 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, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
(signed) G. Washington

Christians and Politics

A friend of mine had a letter published in the Star Telegram. I thought it was so excellent I got permission to publish it here as well.

Columnist Cal Thomas appears to believe that Christians should abandon politics and instead be just about the business of doing "good works." (See: "Christians may have learned the most from the election," Nov. 9)

Even though some valid points were made, some of the opinions were, I believe, misguided.
Many Christians have an incomplete picture of God’s plan for his people in society. We stray from one extreme to the other: retreating or becoming like the culture.

Thomas’ answer is the former extreme: retreat — at least in politics. I heartily agree that Christians should do good works, but to abandon the institution of civil government that was established by God is not only unscriptural, but foolish.

"Are we to sit back and expect the ungodly to produce the fruits of godliness?," asked the Plymouth Rock Foundation. "That would not be faith, that would be folly. It would be handing the nation to humanism by default."

Does it not make sense that Christians would want civil government to be filled with godly men who understand godly principles?

There are reasons that some Christians do fail in politics and in efforts to transform government.
One is that they have little or no understanding of what God’s design for government is supposed to look like.

Secondly, we believe that we must vote for the lesser of two evils when it comes to choosing civil magistrates (i.e., president of the United States) instead of voting according to the clear qualifications in Scripture. We fail to realize that God can easily take care of the results when his people are obedient.

Thirdly, we, as Christians, must take back the authority of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation and understand that the word of God, in principle when not explicitly, is applicable to every area of life.

Finally, although not exhaustively, churches must stop worshipping at the altar of their 501(c)(3)’s and stand up and be heard. What a shame to us all that we too often fear to let our voices ring out today.

A clear reading of Scripture and knowledge of history leave no doubt that Christians should and must be involved in civil government in whatever capacity God calls them.

— Kerri Jackson

Free Churches

There are very few free churches in America. Most congregations are bound to the government via 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporations. Pastors and preachers are not free to speak their minds about politicians from the pulpit. In fact, a Catholic bishop may be in hot water for publishing a post comparing Obama to King Herrod. Americans United for the Separation of Church and State dropped a 100,000-piece mailing this week to churches, threatening them to stay silent on moral issues-or else.

According to Alliance Defense Fund, this has not always been the case. Here is a long quote from their website.

Historically, churches have emphatically, and with great passion, spoken Scriptural truth from the pulpit about government and culture. Historians have stated that America owes its independence in great degree to the moral force of the pulpit. Pastors have proclaimed Scriptural truth throughout history on great moral issues such as slavery, women’s suffrage, child labor and prostitution. Pastors have also spoken from the pulpit with great frequency for and against various candidates for government office.

All that changed in 1954 with the passage of the “Johnson amendment” which restricted the right of churches and pastors to speak Scriptural truth about candidates for office. The Johnson amendment was proposed by then-Senator Lyndon Johnson, and it changed the Internal Revenue Code to prohibit churches and other non-profit organizations from supporting or opposing a candidate for office. After the Johnson amendment passed, churches faced a choice of either continuing their tradition of speaking out or silencing themselves in order to retain their church’s tax exemption. The Internal Revenue Service, in conjunction with radical organizations like Americans United for Separation of Church and State, have used the Johnson amendment to create an atmosphere of intimidation and fear for any church that dares to speak Scriptural truth about candidates for office or issues.

So I pray for more pastors, preachers, bishops, etc. who are willing to speak out from the pulpit. I also pray for more free churches to form.

As far as free churches go, here are some interesting websites.
http://www.theantichurch.org/501c3churchinfo.htm
http://hushmoney.org/

All of this free church business also brings me to the FairTax. Under the FairTax there would be no more need for 501(c)(3)'s. If you don't know about the FairTax, go and check it out here.

Christopher Columbus

I have been reading a book called The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel. It is a very interesting book about God's hand in the beginning of America. It starts out with Christopher Columbus. I never really knew that much about Columbus except that he sailed the ocean blue in 1492. The book is written in narrative form (as opposed to textbook form) but the authors researched translations of Columbus' journal and other first hand accounts. From what I read so far, Christopher Columbus was a man with many vices but also amazing faith. Columbus felt called by God to bear Christ (this is what his name means) to Japan and the Indies. He tried talking a few other monarchies into ponying up the dough, but he really stuck with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella because they were the most religious. (The authors point out this religious fervor had them involved in the Crusades. They were also the ones in power during the infamous Inquisition.) Columbus' main character flaws seem to be greed and arrogance. But he was also brave and bold. I really believe that God used Columbus (faults and all) to begin the path of America becoming a country. Columbus' story rather reminds me of Sampson. He is a rather unsavory character in many ways but God still used him.

The saddest part of Christopher Columbus' story was how his lust for gold won out over his original calling. This lust lead to the deaths of many thousands of Native Americans and hundreds of Spaniards. The second and third trips to the Americas were devastating in many ways to the native peoples.

So what am I teaching about Columbus on Monday? I will try to convey both the good and the bad. We will discuss how money and riches and fame can still get in the way of serving God today. I will point out that God uses people with some serious flaws. And we are also making a Santa Maria out of a juice carton.

No Christian Heritage in the New Capital Visitor Center

World Net Daily has an article about the new visitor center at the Capitol. Here is the opening lines.

American taxpayers have spent more than $600 million on a new visitors' center at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., and it will have acres of marble floors and walls, photographs of Earth Day, information about an AIDS rally and details about the nation's industrial sector. What it will not include is America's Christian heritage.

This is certainly not the first anti-Christian act of this kind. And it probably won't be the last.

Wallbuilders has posted this video on YouTube which covers some aspects of the move away from our Christian heritage.



If you would like to learn more about the revision of our history at our national monuments, go to the National Treasures website.

Constitution Day

Thanks to JR at A Keyboard and a .45 for pointing out that it is Constitution Day. The Constitution really is an amazing document. It is too bad we've come so far from the original intent. If you would like your own copy for free from The Heritage Foundation, click here.

Olympic Opening Ceremony

I watched the Olympic Opening Ceremony yesterday. It was truly an amazing display of beauty and human synchronicity. But I found another aspect of it more interesting.

I thought it was interesting that in communist China where the government would like everyone to be atheist they had a show celebrating their religious roots. If Chicago gets the Olympics in 2016, what do you think the odds are that our Christian roots will be celebrated? About zero, I'd say.

Let's not forget two things. 1. America's roots are unapologetically Christian. 2. China is making great strides as a country, but that doesn't mean that we should assume they are "friendly" toward us.

Happy Independence Day!

I didn't realize until going through the Truth Project the depth of our Christian roots in the country. So in honor of tomorrow being July 4th I am posting a list of quotes from some of the founding fathers. May they remind us of the great Christian legacy that has been handed to us and embolden us to speak the truth in love about the roots of this country. (I got these quotes from Wallbuilders. If you want the sources, etc., click here.)



[I]t is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue. -John Adams

[N]either the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. -Samuel Adams

[T]he primary objects of government are the peace, order, and prosperity of society. . . . To the promotion of these objects, particularly in a republican government, good morals are essential. Institutions for the promotion of good morals are therefore objects of legislative provision and support: and among these . . . religious institutions are eminently useful and important. . . . [T]he legislature, charged with the great interests of the community, may, and ought to countenance, aid and protect religious institutions—institutions wisely calculated to direct men to the performance of all the duties arising from their connection with each other, and to prevent or repress those evils which flow from unrestrained passion. -Cheif-Justice Oliver Elsworth



I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that "except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing governments by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service. - Benjamin Franklin


[P]ublic utility pleads most forcibly for the general distribution of the Holy Scriptures. The doctrine they preach, the obligations they impose, the punishment they threaten, the rewards they promise, the stamp and image of divinity they bear, which produces a conviction of their truths, can alone secure to society, order and peace, and to our courts of justice and constitutions of government, purity, stability and usefulness. In vain, without the Bible, we increase penal laws and draw entrenchments around our institutions. Bibles are strong entrenchments. Where they abound, men cannot pursue wicked courses, and at the same time enjoy quiet conscience. -James McHenry

To the kindly influence of Christianity we owe that degree of civil freedom, and political and social happiness which mankind now enjoys. . . . Whenever the pillars of Christianity shall be overthrown, our present republican forms of government, and all blessings which flow from them, must fall with them. -Jedidiah Morse

No free government now exists in the world, unless where Christianity is acknowledged, and is the religion of the country. -Pennsylvania Supreme Court 1824

We profess to be republicans, and yet we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government, that is, the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by the means of the Bible. For this Divine Book, above all others, favors that equality among mankind, that respect for just laws, and those sober and frugal virtues, which constitute the soul of republicanism. -Benjamin Rush

Indeed, the right of a society or government to [participate] in matters of religion will hardly be contested by any persons who believe that piety, religion, and morality are intimately connected with the well being of the state and indispensable to the administrations of civil justice. The promulgation of the great doctrines of religion—the being, and attributes, and providence of one Almighty God; the responsibility to Him for all our actions, founded upon moral accountability; a future state of rewards and punishments; the cultivation of all the personal, social, and benevolent virtues—these never can be a matter of indifference in any well-ordered community. It is, indeed, difficult to conceive how any civilized society can well exist without them. -Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story

Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of man and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. -George Washington

[I]f we and our posterity reject religious instruction and authority, violate the rules of eternal justice, trifle with the injunctions of morality, and recklessly destroy the political constitution which holds us together, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us that shall bury all our glory in profound obscurity. -Daniel Webster

Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled either by a power within them or by a power without them; either by the Word of God or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible or by the bayonet. -Robert Winthrop

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! Remember to thank God who gives all good things. I am especially thankful for salvation in Christ, my loving husband, and the opportunity God has given us to participate in the bringing up of two young souls.