More Evidence of Creation

     Does God have a sense of humor? Does He speak through his creation?

     The eggs of a potato bug hatch in 7 days. Canary eggs in 14 days. Those of a barnyard hen in 21 days. 

     The eggs of ducks and geese hatch in 28 days. Those of the mallard in 35 days. Eggs of the parrot and the ostrich hatch in 42 days.

     All divisible by seven, the days of a week. 

     God's making of the elephant: It's four legs all bend forward in the same direction. No other quadruped is so made. God planned that elephants' huge body is too large for two legs. He gave it four fulcrums so it can rise easily from the ground. (A fulcrum is the point a lever rests or is supported and on which it pivots.) 

     The horse rises from the ground first on its two front legs. A cow rises with its two hind legs first. 

     God's wisdom is revealed in His arrangement of sections and segments, as in the number of grains. Each watermelon has an even number of stripes on the rind. Each orange has an even number of segments.  

                               Continued tomorrow

Lamb Conquers Serpent

     Adam and Eve are guilty. God speaks to the serpent (the devil). A Seed is coming. The Seed will be bruised, but the serpent's head will be crushed.  

     The Seed is Jesus. Much later, at the cross it seemed the serpent had won. Jesus' disciples had feared so. But Jesus rose from the grave and is forever Lord of Lords. Among other names, He is the "Lamb that was slain." God allows the battle to continue, but Satan knows he is defeated.

     Football and basketball games continue until the time is over. One team leading by 20 points with only a minute on the clock ... play on.  

     Life and death. Fight on. There are countless people who aren't yet listed in the book of life. Jesus wants more people - his bride - to join him at "the wedding supper of the Lamb," (Revelation 19), before He returns - with them/us - to begin his millennium on earth. 

     So, the Trinity has been here and everywhere all along. Every covenant, every promise, every moment. God's first two humans let him down. As do all of us. He wants to redeem what He calls His people. 

     If the enemy has power over us, we gave it to him. He is defeated.

Prayer: Jesus, teach me not to give into fear, shame and accusation. Today I choose to walk in your victory and life. Amen.

 What Begat This Project? 

   Continued

      In the Forward of family history, I wrote: "Amateur moralist we may be; scientist we're not. A few scribbled notes at a Christmas-season dinner table led to this laborious project ... but a labor of love. 

     "Love always hopes and always endures. The reader may enjoy a Yankee soldier's recollections. Or marvel at the man who walked 58 miles to school. We found handwritten notes from the same era Katherine Lee Bates wrote America the Beautiful. We received photos that predate the U.S. income tax. 

     "There were puzzles to solve ... taking pieces of hazy memory and determining where to place them. We began to love people again for the first time. We awoke in the night, strangely enjoying their memories. Our stories begin when agrarian orientation dominated the life and structure of the USA, and end when modernization had begun to turn us inside out. 

     "The reader can judge whether we're better off with satellites and internets than we were with 8th-grade education, or less, superstitions notwithstanding. Their stories have passed through filters of the author's biases, and the reader will find lapses of literary license. 

     I ended the Forward with a tease of the first two chapters: Civil War. 

     "Now, dear reader, raise the footstool of your electric chair and load your musket. As you prepare for the fight, consider that if the trajectory of a Confederate bullet had been an inch on either side of the Yankee rifle it hit, 12 of 16 of these chapters might not have been written. Come to think of it, this author wouldn't be here either. Humbling, isn't it? 

     "On to Richmond!" 

                                    Tomorrow: Lamb conquers serpent

      

 Returning Home with Joy...

     ...the title of my book in 1996. Working in South Carolina then, we wrote about family...parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins...in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, Arizona, Wyoming and Ohio. They contributed memories and pictures, some of them from the 1800s. Yes, we all wrote the book. 

     None of the relatives are still living, including my younger cousin who made 38 of the 90-page books in his printing shop. He would not take my money. 

     We won't bother you with the content, including a great uncle's service in the Civil War. But, history can teach. Here is a part of my Forward: 

     "Propeller planes begat television, begat jetliners, begat spaceships. Horses and buggies begat trains, begat trolleys, begat cars and trucks, begat radios, begat television. (Imagine how this would read today.) 

     "Character begats optimism, and usually prosperity and peace. People of character believe in a better tomorrow, that obstacles exist to be overcome, and that this country has a strong and beneficial role in the world. In our family stories covering more than 90 years, the reader will find rich memories of warm people who worked together. 

     "Working together. There may be the secret to "family values" we hear about, and some are trying to restore. Somewhere along the line of begats, we overcame the need to pull together. So, this writer won't praise too much the children born among gardens and sowing needles or criticize children born among supermarkets and mega-malls." 

     "G.K. Chesterton: 'The family is the factory that manufactures mankind.' If that is true, we have a problem with those who redefine the family. The magazine goes on to say that 'agreement is rare on what kind of family is better at manufacturing mankind.' America is increasingly a culture that celebrates individualism. Some offer an opinion on what type of family is best. These are social scientists." 

                                       Conclusion tomorrow 

Believe it or Not 

     Your blogger knew someone who lived during our Civil War. How is that possible? 

     First, the "someone" was born in 1864. The Civil War did not end for another year. Ora Dilley would eventually become my grandfather.

     He fathered three boys and three girls, one of which eventually became my mother, Mary Elizabeth. She was born in 1906, gave birth to me in 1938 and named me James. She lived 97 years. 

     Grandpa lived 36 years in the 19th century and another 53 years in the 20th, for a total of 89. He went way beyond average length of life in those times. Even beyond today's average. 

     I lived the last 15 years of his life. There were occasional visits to or by my grandparents. The man born during the Civil War. 

     The 162-year total for the three of us isn't over...yet. I inherited long life, but we take it a day at a time as the Lord commands.

            James

PS. Grandpa Ora did a variety of work while he was still single. There were no cars or trucks in the 1800s. Maybe trains, and horses. He lived near Pittsburgh when he chose to walk all the way to Edinboro, 58 miles, carrying two suitcases. He attended a school, but we don't know what level. Come time to return home, he walked again. 

Tuesday: My very own book

   

America's Christian Roots

     How many of us attended or will attend church today? "Christianity is central to any honest account of our history," says R. Robert Mohler. "The entire culture was saturated with Christian influence."

     By 1776, over 90 percent of the people identified with a branch of Protestantism. "Those people had no explanation for the universe, for their own lives, for the passage of time, or the meaning of human liberty and dignity," wrote Mohler. He says, today, "If secular liberalism reigns, civilizational collapse is inevitable. If Americans reclaim the affirmations held by our founders, there is hope." 

    "Secularism offers no basis for genuine hope. It provides no cement to hold society together. Is America a Christian nation? At the very least this would require a recovery of the Christian consensus that existed in 1776. We must pray that it can and will."

Baby Born Twice 

     A Florida child is celebrating his first birthday after surgery allowed him to be 'born twice,' and saved his life. 

     Thirteen weeks into pregnancy, the parents learned their son, Cassian, had a potentially fatal condition that blocks the airway. At 25 weeks, doctors partially delivered Cassian during a C-section while he remained attached to the placenta. They inserted a temporary airway tube, then returned him to the womb. 

     Mother delivered the boy six weeks later, and after 132 days in the NICU, Cassian came home. He faces likely challenges, but his mother told reporters, "God turned what was our greatest heartbreak into a leap of medical science, and now there's a whole new era of treatment for these babies." 

                       Jimmy

The Salesman's Call

     "In all our encounters with our fellow human beings, what must never be forgotten is that the person with whom we are speaking, whatever else he or she is - sailor, soldier, salesman - is first of all an image bearer of God. This is most basic." - Andree Seu Peterson. 

I call upon Americans to bend low before

God and to go to their knees as Washington

and Lincoln called us...years ago. No nation

is ever taller than when on its knees.

Hidden Blessings

     "The spiritual benefits of suffering are well known: the destruction of our illusion of self-sufficiency. Spiritual purification and deeper trust in God. The awakening of spiritual seriousness. Writing from a quadriplegia after a diving accident, Joni Eareckson Tada describes disability itself as both grievous and spiritually transformative." - Lynn Vincent

Socialism's Salesman

     "While Mamdani's socialism no doubt appeals to many Jews in New York City, this largest Jewish community outside of Israel should not rest easy while pro-Hamas Mamdani runs the city." - Howard Killion, Ph, D.

#

Isaiah Knew Him First 

     "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter." - Isaiah 53:7. 

     Jesus was falsely accused, unjustly beaten, publicly mocked - and He stayed silent. Not because He was weak, but because He knew who and what He was fighting for. He trusted the Father who led him from birth, especially his last three years. 

     Hanging on the horrible cross, He said, Father, forgive them. 

     Forgiveness is not an emotion; it's a decision to obey. We're still human. We can't erase our own memories. 

     What do we do? We pray to God, "Help my emotions catch up to my obedience." We can forgive (like Erika Kirk) despite the emotion we don't feel yet. Silence is not weakness; it aligns with the Lamb who was silent while taking the punishment that saves those who trust and obey.  

Mostly provided by our pastor

Did You Know?

Treasury secretary Scott Bessent blocked $99 million that had been sent to deceased people year after year. 

* 

Communist Cuba runs a global ideological campaign to turn people against the United States. Seeding into our radical left, subversive narratives, and terror. We thought Cuba had forgotten communism. 

*

Mrs. Donut celebrated her birthday this week, with best wishes from two friends here in Florida, two in New York (where she lived long ago), two in South Carolina (where we lived long ago), one in Colorado (another old friend), and one in Israel (an old friend once in Pennsylvania) and an unexpected greeting from Pennsylvania. Of course, women can talk endlessly, but Mrs. Donut made time for me take her out to dinner. 

*

New language: infrastructure, computational, footprint, usage and hyperscale. Whatever. You won't find such language here.  

         Jimmy

 

Power for a Poor Nation

     On Tuesday we wrote about loving others, caring for our neighbors. 

     How about caring for people on the other side of America who have no electricity? Our power company sent 18 employees to "Light Up Navajo 7" 1,800 miles from Florida. A nationwide effort, the Florida crew energized 18 homes in two weeks. They worked in challenging conditions, often spending hours digging through rocky terrain to install power infrastructure.

     For many families, this is life changing. Among them is an 86-year-old. "Seeing the smiles and gratitude from families is something that stays with you forever," said the team leader, a district manager in our county. We take our electricity for granted - except for occasional outages. We appreciate crews who work into the night when a storm cuts off power to a whole neighborhood.  

     Crews considered it a privilege to provide electricity to the Navajos who have lived without power for generations. Electricity enhances safety, educational opportunities, and improves quality of life. 

     My dad and two uncles had degrees in electrical engineering. During the depression, dad and a crew provided electricity to farmers. It wasn't that long ago. Thank George Westinghouse and an employee who learned how to provide electric power over thousands of miles. Well, electricity doesn't go anywhere, except lightning, and rapid back and forth when a power plant "excites" it. Thomas Edison created the light bulb. Westinghouse put it to use, for the whole world.   

        Jimmy

 Wednesday

Proof - God Exists 

     He made the antelope, beaver, bear, beetle, bison, chinchilla, centipede and the cheetah which can race 60 mph. He made the calf, caribou, cat, crusado, cow, deer, elk, fox, frog, goat, grizzly, gorilla, gazelle, guanaco and the gila monster. 

     God also made the human, horse, hare, jaguar, kangaroo, lion, lynk, lamb, longhorn beetle, leopard, mole, monkey, mouse, okapi, ox, penguin, porcupine, rat, red squirrel and red lechwe. There is the snake, snow leopard, spider, tiger, toad, wolf, woodland deer, wild boar and zebra. 

     We might have included the alligator and crocodile, but they spend too much time under water. So, we'll stop at 54 including humans...we creatures who often act like animals, or worse. Humans can't run 60 mph, or bite like a gorilla, but we can invent things that harm others, out of hatred, or financial gain.  

     There is a lake with 1,400 animal species, but we can't fit all that in a blog. Sorry. Nor can we list some 500 different birds, or unknown numbers of creatures living in the ocean. 

     What's with the Bold animals, above? 

     In the book of Isaiah, 11:6-8, God tells us the wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, cow with bear, calf and lion together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. This, and a child can play next to the hole of a cobra, when Jesus takes over the world for a millennium of grace and teaching.   

 Return to Our Founding Ideals?

   Part 3

     It begins with the church, Senator Lankford says. "The church and what God is doing is still the hope of the earth. Washington D.C. doesn't change the country. Washington is just a mirror of our culture. The country changes Washington."

     "The first responsibility is what the church is doing in communities, made up of families and individuals. The church was ablaze 250 years ago for what was true and righteous. The Great Awakening occurred right before the revolution. Preachers were traveling around the colonies challenging people of faith."

     "So, the influence of the church (or lack of) has been central from the very beginning. We need churches that are vibrant and alive, loving people and caring for their neighbors and setting an example. I never want to see a church that excludes people based on political beliefs."

     "God cares about government. But the hope of the earth is not government. It's the hope found in Jesus of Scripture. He alone can transform people - and nations." 

Wednesday: 54 proofs of our Creator

 Monday

Working on a More Perfect Union

  Part 2 

     Sen. James Landford says, "Division is driving us away from each other. People who disagree with us are also people loved by Jesus. They are created in the image of God. Christians have a right and responsibility to speak out. But for some reason there is a belief that if I yell loudly enough, they'll be persuaded." 

     "That doesn't work for me and most others. Our culture idolizes the angriest, most bitter, divisive person. You get the most likes if you say the snarkiest things. As Christians, we don't gleefully attack. We speak the truth in love and in compassion to persuade, to convince."

     "There are Bible studies all over Capitol Hill every week with staff members, and people in both House and Senate. There are gatherings of people coming together for prayer all over the Hill. There are multiple churches in Washington, D.C. that are seeing a tremendous number of baptisms right now for people who are coming to Christ. Many are coming in from all over the country, to work, and while they're here, they're actually encountering Christ." 

     "God is still sending people into Washington, D.C. That tells me He's not done here. By no means a majority of people, but God has not left us without a witness."

Tomorrow, conclusion

How would we begin to live up to our founding ideals? 

 Toward a 'more perfect union' 

     We think our nation is about to break up. Along comes Senator James Lankford from Oklahoma with an ongoing hope for our republic. 

     A few blogs ago we wrote about Christian preachers who rallied Americans to fight for freedom. Lankford spent 22 years in Christian ministry before God called him into public service, in 2011. He reveals hope for us all. 

     Asked what concerns him most about our republic after 250 years, he replied: "Right now, we're trying to out-anger each other. Our adversaries globally would love to see Americans fighting each other rather than contending for the values of our founding. I hope all Christians would pray about this." 

     "We have to protect the rights we've inherited, especially our religious freedom. We did something no government on earth has ever done. It was this enormous experiment - civilian leadership of the military, separation of powers and government, co-equal branches with checks and balances. With that, also the freedom for people of faith to live their faith, change their faith, or have no faith. That has never been done in world history." 

     Asked what warnings our founders would give, Lankford said, "Some of the founders are speaking from the grave on this still. George Washington challenged us not to break into factions and parties, saying they would separate us and we would become more loyal to parties than to the nation. The very next election we did break into parties." 

     "Men are not angels. We are still learning how to be better as a people and function with our differences. We have the means to live out our faith and hear God's voice and learn to be better. This challenge toward a more perfect union really is a challenge." 

Continued tomorrow

       Jimmy 

 Ditch Democracy? 

     Earlier this week we wrote of political extremes, Islamists and communists. Here is another look at political trends that young people think should replace democracy. We need to understand them before we can sway them. There are socialists and there are monarchists (praise the king). 

     Emma Freire writes, "These movements are by young people who look at the future with despair. They believe the American dream is dead. Socialism and monarchy appeal to human nature. A poll in 2025 found only 13% of 18-29 year-olds feel the nation is headed in the right direction. 

     "Nearly half of them live with their parents. And 41% of recent college grads suffer underemployment. The high cost of housing is one of their biggest concerns. In 2025 only 12% of 30-year-olds were married. The American dream? A stake in society? 

     "Congress is considering the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. A controversial provision bans large investors from buying up single family homes. Experts say this will help, but supply must also increase. 

     "Some younger Americans feel like elected officials don't represent them. Baby boomers were the largest generation for a long time, and they still vote consistently. So, elected officials attend to their concerns. Leaders are staying in office long past traditional retirement age. Younger Americans may have a sense there is no path for them to rise." 

Views: Okay. And who is going to convince them a king or socialism or outright communism is NOT going to work better than Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness? Freedom! There are ways to improve. Limit years politicians can serve. Don't watch or listen to news sources controlled by Democrats. Fire all liars. 😖

          Jimmy

Daylight Savings to End? 

     No doubt you know the House of Representatives passed a bill 308-117 to end Daylight Savings time. 

     Republicans and Democrats found something to agree about. Now it's the Senate's turn to - what's that word again? - oh yeah, agree. 

Second Chance 

     Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania readies for restart. America's largest nuclear energy company is working to restart one of the reactors at the site of the 1979 accident...to help meet a growing demand for electricity. My cousin, an electrician, spent some time there following the accident.

     There are 95 nuclear power plants operating in the US. They generate about 20 percent of the nation's electricity.  

Approved Again 

     As for oil's contribution to electric power, the Dakota Access Pipeline can remain in place. The 1,200-mile pipeline transports up to 570,000 barrels of oil a day from North Dakota to Illinois refineries. Native Americans and environmentalists fought the pipeline's 1-mile route under Lake Oahe. The decision follows a 2020 court order to assess natural factors more completely than originally done in 2016. 

     For us to benefit from any of this oil, Dakota Access must develop procedures to supply clean water, food and compensation in case of a spill, add more groundwater monitoring wells, and allow independent review of leak-detection systems. 

     Native Indians have their day - years - in courts, as they should.

           Jimmy

War on U.S. and Israel  

     On Sunday we wrote about Islamists and the secular left joined in "war" against America and Israel, the Judeo-Christian civilization, Western freedom. We ended Sunday with apostle Paul's teaching that a Christian's real enemy is Satan's angels...in heavenly places. 

     Of course, we trust the Bible, but could it be that Satan's work is behind movements that hate each other, but hate us first? Michael Youssef wrote a book, AN UNHOLY ALLIANCE. A summary:

     Rainbow flags wave at Hamas rallies. A liberal feminist marches alongside men who believe a woman's testimony is worth half a man's in a court of law. LGBTQ people chant with an ideology that throws gay men from rooftops and stones women for adultery. The secular left and radical Islamists bond in hatred. Not merely disagreement, but a deep, motivating hatred of Christianity and Judaism. Freedom.

     Youssef says this hatred makes these opponents willing to ignore their vast differences. He says, 'When the object of your loathing is the same, you can march together regardless of what you plan to do to each other afterward.' The book is eye-opening and heartbreaking, the writer says. 

     Hamas invaded Israel in 2023 and Western progressives celebrated it. The election of Zohran Mamdani as New York mayor. Muslim scholars calling for Sharia friendly enclaves. Suspicious influence in Minnesota and Michigan. Qatari money flowing into American universities. Qatar deals with any nation they please, whatever works for them. 

     Hey! Didn't Qatar give America a $400 million Boeing 747-S for Air Force One? 

         Jimmy 

PS. Socialists have taken over the Democratic party. 

 Dual Citizenship 

     "Make no mistake about it, there is a truth war right now in our culture. God's truth is under attack. Nothing in all the world is more important than the truth of Jesus Christ. Solomon's wise advice in Proverbs 23:23 has never been timelier: Buy truth and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction and understanding. 

Jack Graham, Dallas pastor

     "This spiritual war between truth and lies is being waged in the hearts and minds of people, particularly in the church. Many Christians are being shaped by the culture rather than shaped by the Savior and Scripture. Many churches are throwing in the towel when it comes to culture wars and social issues. 

    "Too many pastors are compromising their calling in the pulpit, watering down their messages from the infallible Word of God for fear of offending. Two problems with that. One, people are offended too easily these days; and two, the Bible is offensive because it speaks absolute truth for all generations. 

     "There is not much wrong in our country that cannot be made right if the spiritual leadership in God's churches rises to the challenges and crises of our times. It is our responsibility to disciple people. If the church doesn't disciple them, the world will...and the world is good at it.

     "More than ever, we must not relent. We must be bold, courageous and stand strong for the Lord Jesus, our King. God has called us to fight the good fight of faith - to take up the sword of the Sprit." 

Thursday: The war all around us

Christian Turned Communist 

     A missionary went to Korea in 1889. Many Koreans adopted the new religion, and the largest Presbyterian compound in the world excited the missionaries. In 1910 Japan annexed Korea, but evangelism and church planting continued. Koreans hoped America would rescue them. Not to be...yet.

Korean Messiah, by Jonathan Cheng

     They were disillusioned with the West and looked to communism for help. Japanese occupation ended in 1945, and the Soviets and Americans divided the peninsula at the 38th parallel. Kim Il Sung came from a family of believers. He was a Sunday school teacher...then he became dictator of an atheistic state. 

     When the Soviets put Kim in power in North Korea, the North had more Christians than the South. And the South had more communists. The disruptions of the Korean War and communist persecution shifted that balance. 

     The author says Kim's ideology turned into a secular religion, something similar to Stalinism, and turning the Great Leader into a god. The typical communist cult of personality became a religious cult. 

     Kim's grandson carries on, with nuclear bombs, and oversight by China. South Korea offers freedom. Our son and nephew each had tours there with our military...73 years and counting.  

        Jimmy

USA: 1776 to 2026 

     So, we return to our history and who we are today. From information available.

     In 1790 95% of Americans were farmers or lived in rural areas. In 2020, 20% (coincidence) remained rural. In 1940, only 5% were farmers. Urban residents were 5% of the country in 1790, and they grew to 80% by 2020, more than any other group. Next in numbers are city residents, followed by those in suburbs. 

     About 9% of Americans were foreign born in 1850. By 2024 that became 15%. Immigration from Europe grew 92% from 1850 to 1970. Mexican immigrants rose from 200,000 in 1970 to 12 million in 2010. 

     The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act resulted in a worldwide incoming. By 2010, immigrants from Latin countries were half of the total. From Asia, 28%, and from Europe, 12%. 

     In 1800, half the population was age 16 or under. In that century, the average mother had 7 children. Their likelihood of growing up was not guaranteed, as my great grandmother would tell you, if she could. Maybe similar to African children today. 

     The year 1945, with Germany and Japan put down, they called it a "golden era." Yours truly was age 6, and I didn't see any gold, but the USA was on the upswing. Black Americans (many) had to wait a few more years to gain...protest for...inclusion. 

     WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among them are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness...

1776

We Are at War 

     What a topic to start the new week. Iran? No, not them. 

     Our headline might better read, "in a war." And what might that be?

     Two groups that hate each other are joined in battle against Christians and Jews: 1. Islam. Their "certainty" (not faith) is based on Mohammad, who died in 632 A.D., and 2. communists, Marxists and socialists (any or all of these). When and if America crumbles and Christians and Jews cannot survive, the millions of Muslims and Marxists will duke it out for total control.

     Of course, Satan is their sponsor, but they don't know it. God threw Satan and other angels out of heaven. And He could end this war today, but He has great plans still to come. (See the New Testament).

     Christians might attend church, while we have other matters today and throughout the week. But we are in God's war. He wants our prayers. Then his Spirit will work. It will matter to each of us now and when/if we enter heaven.  

Ephesians chapter 6. 

     Our war is not against Muslims or communists, but against spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. Paul lists the "full armor of God: Belt of truth. Breastplate of righteousness. Feet fitted with readiness. Shield of faith. Helmet of salvation, and Sword of the Spirit." 

 A Decaying Culture 

     "Make no mistake about it; there is a truth war in our culture. God's truth is under attack. Nothing in all the world is more important or more valuable than the truth of Jesus Christ. 

Jack Graham, Texas pastor

     "Solomon's wise advice in Proverbs 23:23 has never been timelier. Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding. This spiritual war between truth and lies is being waged in the hearts and minds of people, particularly in the church. Too many Christians are being shaped by the culture rather than being shaped by the Savior and the Scripture. 

     "They are compromised when it comes to the core teaching of the Christian faith. Many churches are throwing in the towel when it comes to the culture wars and social issues. Too many pastors compromise their calling in the pulpit, watering down their messages from the infallible Word of God, for fear of offending. 

     "People are offended too easily these days. The Bible speaks absolute truth for all generations. There is not much wrong in our country that cannot be made right if spiritual leadership would rise to the challenges and crises of our times. It is our responsibility as the church of the Lord Jesus Christ to disciple people, because if the church doesn't disciple them, the world will...and the world is good at it.

     "Now more than ever in our country, we must not relent. We must be bold and courageous and stand strong for the Lord Jesus, our King. God has called us to fight the good fight of faith." 

 Sunday: we are at war right here

Fight for Freedom 

     The Declaration says "all men are equal" in their claim to justice, that governments exist to give them that justice, and that their authority is for that reason just. Those rights are being threatened by a culture increasingly anti-God and anti-Christian. 

Gary Hamrick, pastor in Virginia

     "Pastors were at the center of the American Revolution. They led the fight for religious freedom and recruited men from their churches to join the fight. Several pastors made up the 'Black Robed Regiment,' the most feared by the British because of their influence. The British placed bounties on their heads, burned their homes and churches, and would execute wounded ministers rather than take them prisoners of war." 

     "We've witnessed government overreach with mandates to close churches during COVID, while liquor stores and hardware stores were called 'essential' and remained open. We've witnessed school boards stripping parental rights. Churches, Christian schools and Jewish synagogues have been the target of violent attacks, ranging from arson to mass shootings." 

     "We must not allow the slow creep of an anti-Judeo-Christian bias in our culture to smother religious freedoms we have enjoyed for 250 years. It is still a battle worth fighting. It will only be won if pastors are courageous, and Christians are engaged. Jesus said in John 8:36, 'So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.' Freedom is a gift - both spiritual freedom from sin, and religious freedom to worship the Lord and live fearlessly for Jesus." 

     Pastor Hamrick urges, "Let us do all we can to keep that light of religious freedom shining brightly in America." 

                                                                                                              Thursday

Our Challenges Today

     A message about America from then to now to beyond, by Jason Thomson, Utah house of representatives. 

     "Our challenges differ from those of 1776, but the fundamental question is similar. Can free people govern themselves? The answer will come not solely by leaders and the wealthy. It will come from citizens who do the quiet necessary work of self-government." 

     "That responsibility is where the founders intended it to be...the people. For 250 years the explosion of human progress has been unlike anything the world has known. The average person today carries more information in a smart phone than heads of state possessed only decades ago."

     "America has not always lived up to its highest ideals. There has been injustice and achievements, failures and triumphs. Our story is way beyond Mount Rushmore. From our beginning, unknown people accomplished the amazing and the necessary to make our nation and even the world a better place."

Search 'Mount Rushmore' for Thomson's message.

If you can find it, he names ordinary people who provided 

success that leaders like those on Rushmore get the credit.  

Opinions Then and Now

George Washington 

     "Be courteous to all but intimate with few and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence."

Elizabeth Powel, Philadelphia, 1787

     "Self-government requires ongoing vigilance and civic responsibility, virtue and moral character." 

Dr. Ben Carson 

     "Our 250th year is an extraordinary milestone, worthy of celebration, reflection and gratitude. We are not perfect. We have made mistakes, faced decisions and endured great challenges." 

     "Despite our imperfections, there remains something exceptional about this nation that continues to inspire people around the world." 

Tomorrow: more about our 250th

American Revolution 

  Continued

     "Thomas Jefferson received the same invitation to celebrate the 50th anniversary of American independence. Like John Adams, he was too ill. In his last letter of record, he wrote from Monticello a reflection on the Declaration, of which he was the famous author. He wrote, May it be to the world. 

     Both men died on the Fourth of July. 

     Webster wrote, "No age will come in which the American Revolution will appear less than it is, one of the great events in human history." He believed, "The highest attainment of all future generations would be to understand and live up to the greatness of the American Revolution. The essence of that greatness - was the idea of independence itself - the idea of political freedom.

     During the 200th-year celebration, Harry Jaffa wrote, "Nothing threatens the future of human freedom more than the failure to keep alive the understanding of and attachment to its principles."       

     John Adams made the same point, "Fellow citizens," he said after telling the biblical story of the children of Israel's entry into the promised land, "the ark of your covenant is the Declaration of Independence." 

     "All their blessings," Adams continued, "would come from adherence to the Declaration's principles, and all of their curses would come from departure from those principles."   

     Then he charged the people with a flurry of actions that reminds us of God's charge to the Israelites on their long march to freedom. There is a reward for obedience to the law of God.

PS. Democrats want to destroy our Constitution and start over with communism. Forgetting our history will help them do it. 

  

The American Revolution 

     John Adams, 40 plus years after the Declaration of Independence, knew that the risky choices, acts of daring and heroism would long be remembered and deserve serious study. 

     In 1818 he wrote, the Revolution took place "in the Minds and Hearts of the People"...the real American Revolution. "In the 1760s and 1770s, a revolutionary generation learned to think and act like the Americans they were becoming." 

Christopher Flannery, Claremont Institute

     "All the actions and documents leading to the Declaration express the American idea of political freedom. Returning to such again and again is a way by which succeeding generations can continue to experience the Revolution for themselves. The Virginia Declaration of Rights in 1776 proclaimed, 'a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality and virtue, and a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.' 

     "So abundant is this gift that to live up to it is the most fulfilling thing we can do. The daily activity of free people is the 'pursuit of happiness,' being good sons and daughters, good parents, neighbors, secretaries, teachers, artists, farmers, plumbers, mechanics, business owners and citizens. Benjamin Franklin put it: 'Pitch upon that course of life which is most excellent, and Custom will make it the most delightful.' 

     "As we celebrated America's 250th, John Adams was invited to attend the 50th anniversary celebration. He wasn't well enough. Later, with the committee visiting, he was asked to make a toast. Adams proposed, I give you 'Independence Forever!' Asked if he would like to add anything, he replied: "Not a word." 

Continued Tuesday

The America God Can Bless 

     "Such an America would look radically different than it looks today. Premarital sex, divorce and out-of-wedlock births would be rare. Our national sin of abortion would become unimaginable. America would assume its crucial role in speaking for basic human rights and would see its worldwide Christian evangelization rejuvenated.

     "In spite of all our short comings and failures, God has blessed America. However, if America does not turn back to the God of our Founding Fathers, I fear the blessings will cease. We are already under God's judgment, having aborted over 75 million children. 

Richard Land, Southern Evangelical Seminary

     "I believe there are two major reasons God has not judged America more harshly. First is our strong national support for God's chosen people, the Jews, and the state of Israel. God has promised to bless those who bless His people and to judge those who do not (Genesis 12).* 

     "Second, we still provide a substantial proportion of support for worldwide missions and evangelism. God has revealed to us the model of national blessing - repentance, humility and obedience. Let us all pray that each of us will embrace the path to blessing, and that it will bring about revival, spiritual awakening and reformation we desperately need. 

     "What better way to honor our nation's 250th birthday than by repentance, obedience and dedication to help usher in blessings for our country."

* Views: Americans are being deceived, tricked into thinking Israel should be eliminated, turning (all) the land turned over to Palestine. The border is contested. When Jesus returns, will He arrive in Jerusalem, or Palestine? 

 Battle Hymn of the Republic 

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord, 

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; 

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword - 

His truth is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never sound retreat, 

He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment seat; 

O be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet! 

Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,

With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me;

As He died to make men holy, let us live to make men free,

  While God is marching on. 

Glory! glory, hallelujah! 

His truth is marching on. 

                                              Julia Ward Howe

The Unstoppable Work

     "The first slaves entered America at Jamestown in 1619. The very next year, 1620, the first Christians arrived from England aboard the Mayflower. These Puritans despised slavery and established a foundation for religious and political freedom. 

Robert Morgan, Tennessee pastor 

     "A hundred years went by. Puritanism and Christianity were waning. A remarkable revival erupted. The awakening spread through all 13 colonies. This set the stage for the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War. John Adams wrote, Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. 

     "The Lord sent the second Great Awakening in the early 1800s. Thousands came to Christ in a revival that birthed the mission movement, Sunday schools, and sent hundreds of evangelists into untamed frontiers. 

     "The work of Jesus Christ is unstoppable. We his people should be unconquerable. Even with its sinful moments and failure, America is a miracle by God's grace. When I see how God has been our help in ages past, I realize He can be our home for years to come.

     "When Dwight Eisenhower ran for president, he asked Billy Graham for a verse of Scripture. When he took the oath of office, he laid his hand on 2 Chronicles 7:14...If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  

July 4th - Battle Hymn

     

The Real Revolution 

     President John Adams argued that the "real American revolution" had already occurred before a single shot was fired. He wrote: "The Revolution was in the Minds and Hearts of the People. A change in their Religious Sentiments of their Duties and Obligations."  

Tony Perkins, Family Research Council

     Adams: "This produced in 1760 and 1761 An Awakening and a Revival of American Principles and Feelings. In 1775 it burst out in open Violence, Hostility and Fury. Adams mentioned seven patriots who took the lead, two of whom were pastors in Boston. One of them explained what the Bible has to say about government, and how we are to respond, be it (government) good or bad."

     "The influence of patriot pastors cannot be overstated. The basic form of regular public communication for many colonists was a Bible-based sermon. Historian Harry Stout says, 'A New England sermon...was so powerful in shaping cultural values, and a sense of corporate purpose that even television pales by comparison.' When the British cracked down on Boston in 1774...patriot pastors took to their pulpits, painting the conflict in Biblical terms, portraying King George III as Pharaoh and the American colonies as the Israelites."

     "Adams wrote to his wife, 'The clergy of every denomination... thunder and lightning every Sabbath...' General Percy declared, 'No body of men are so injurious to peace and tranquility as the clergy." 

     Perkins: "Through their preaching, patriot pastors helped bring about what Adams described, a change in religious sentiments. When war came, the same Biblical conviction fueled the courage to stand against tyranny. These pastors not only made the case for independence; they also strengthened the peoples' resolve to secure it."  

     "If we are to preserve our liberty 250 years later, we need that kind of Revolution again. We must return to the same source of the founders' courage and confidence: the Word of God." 

  Friday: the unstoppable work