A monthly feature from Kerry Wilson

GWRRA Chapter AL-N Gadsden Alabama Chapter Webmaster and Newsletter Editor

April

Constitutional Questions To Ask Candidates Part 2

In the March Issue of Thunder Road’s Christian Corner, I outlined America’s Ten Worst Problems, and I addressed some Constitutional Questions that could be asked of candidates in the upcoming National Elections. We need to elect Statesmen, not Politicians. To continue this discussion, here are some more Constitutional Questions:

Separating Power Horizontally 12) How did the Founders separate power horizontally? There are three functions of government at each level of society. One function is to make the law, another is to administer the law and a third is to interpret the law. These are all on the same horizontal level and are referred to as the legislative, executive, and judicial functions of government. The Founders wanted these three functions to be separated into equal, independent departments. At the same time, they wanted to coordinate these functions so that one department could not function without the other two. Each department was therefore assigned to serve as a check on the others. The idea of the Founders was to have these functions of government “coordinated but never consolidated.” This was one of the most ingenious devices contributed by the founders. 13). What happens if the separation of powers breaks down either vertically or horizontally? The Founders warned that if the vertical separation of power should ever break down so that all power began to be concentrated in Washington, there would be a severely arrogant abuse of the people by government officials. They also said that if the legislative executive and judicial departments failed to act as a check on each other, there would be tyranny and the people would lose their freedom. For more than one full generation this is what has been happening. Consolidation of power leads to Socialism. 14). Has socialism or “collectivism” worked anywhere in the world? Unfortunately, it has not. In fact, the militant forms of socialism such as Communism, Nazism, and Fascism have caused more wars and shed the blood of more human beings that any system of government in the history of the world. Even the so-called “peaceful” forms of socialism such ad Democratic Socialism and Fabian Socialism, have proven counter-productive and have continuously crept along the razor’s edge of perpetual bankruptcy. Americans have sent over hundreds of billions of dollars in foreign aid trying to help the socialist nations survive. Now we are bordering on bankruptcy ourselves. 15). Is American becoming a Socialist Country? Yes. In fact, Webster’s Dictionary defines Socialism as: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. That is exactly what Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama are proposing for the Health Care Industry in the United States. Both proposals are examples of Socialism. 16) Was Franklin D Roosevelt in error when he structured the New Deal? Yes. The New Deal was structured on collectivist principles designed by such men as Harry Hopkins who saw Socialism as a tremendous vehicle to acquire power over the people and their resources. His famous formula was “tax, tax-spend, spend-elect, elect!” 17) Was Lyndon Johnson in error when he said, “We will take from the haves and give to the have nots!” The Founders would certainly have called it an error. There is absolutely no Constitutional authority for the government to engage in any such invasion of private property rights. Throughout history it has always been popular for governments to pretend they are going to “soak the rich,” but such programs have always ended up with government officials using this newly acquired power to violate the inalienable rights of both rich and poor. It is a political trick to build bigger government with bigger debts and bigger taxes. 18) Was President Nixon in error when he continually tried to involve the United States in a “New World Order?” Yes. It is extremely dangerous for Americans to enter into foreign engagements where decisions for Americans are made by non-Americans. The Founders believed that we should coordinate but never consolidate our free and independent society with foreign nations. 19) Was President Carter in error when he began meddling in domestic affairs of foreign nations? Yes. The Monroe Doctrine specifically promised that the United States would never undertake to meddle in the domestic affairs of other countries. Any President or Secretary of State who has followed a policy of “interventionism,” has operated outside of his Constitutional authority. 20) Is Social Security an insurance plan or a welfare plan? The Supreme Court has held that it is a welfare plan. This means that it can be terminated at anytime. It also means the government can distribute its proceeds arbitrarily. The contributor to social security payments acquires no rights and receives only what the government condescends to distribute to him as “payments” if he qualifies under the government’s arbitrary poverty level. 20) Is there a better way? Yes. It is called an annuity program. If the money contributed by an employee (and his employer) between 25 and 65 were invested in American industries under an annuity plan, the fund could be built to a quarter of a million dollars by the time he retires. An annuity fund of this kind would permit an employee to retire at $1,200 to $1,500 per month, Furthermore, the money is his. He does not have to be poor to get it. If he dies it goes to his widow and children. He earned it. He owns it.

I will continue this discussion again in next month’s issue.

March

Constitutional Questions To Ask Candidates Part 1

The Presidential Race is certainly heating up. In November, we will elect a new president, along with a number of other officials. With so many candidates running for the same office, voters are subjected to mud slinging. This consists of dirty politics that has to do with race, gender, experience, the Iraq War, terrorism, the economy, candidates past records, taxes, abortion, immigration, inflation, the stock market, foreign relations, gas prices, oil prices, jobs, unemployment, separation of church and state, and many other issues. In my opinion, these issues are all or mostly all “smoke screen”. Most of them are meant to get the voters minds off of the real issues. I believe that a candidate that could correctly answer Constitutional Questions, would get my vote, regardless of party or platform. The candidate believes in the Constitution and has studied the Constitution, and writing of the Founding Fathers would be a Statesman. A Statesmen would be able to solve all of our other problems without getting into mud slinging. We need to elect Statesmen, not politicians.

First let us understand the real problems in America. Here is a list of the Ten Worst Problems: 1). An alarming rate of inflation which is wrecking the stability of the entire American economy. 2) A deteriorating money system which has no gold or silver base as required by the Constitution. 3) A fantastic national debt of 9 trillion dollars with interest payments of around a trillion dollars. 4) A policy of deficit spending which is passing along this generation’s extravagance to be paid for by the next generation – something the founders said was immoral. 5) An overwhelming burden of stifling taxation which is now taking away nearly half of all American earning power. 6) The strangulation of the free-enterprise system with over-regulation, over-taxation, and blatantly unfair competition from 700 government-owned corporations and more than 11,000 government-owned businesses which are usually subsidized and pay no taxes. 7) A federal bureaucracy of 3 million employees plus many more millions in government service on the state and local level. These now comprise one out of every five members of the American work force. 8) A federal Social Security System which was sold to the American people as “insurance” but which has turned out to be a highly discriminatory welfare program, now on the verge of bankruptcy. 9) The abandonment of the Monroe Doctrine which is allowing the United States to be gradually encircled by an avowed enemy equipped with nuclear missiles. 10) Federally-funded programs and Federally enunciated policies which are having a devastating impact on the morality of the nation and the structure of the family.

Do these issues resemble anything you hear on the news? Of course not. The news media and the politicians are either too cowardly or too ignorant to discuss the real issues.

Here is a partial list of Constitutional Questions (and the answers) to ask Candidates. 1) Under the Constitution, who has the sovereign authority to govern? The founders said it is in the people by God’s own allowance. No branch or agency of the government should be allowed to operate in violation of the expressed will of the people. 2) In what way are “all men created equal?” All humanity are equal in three ways: 1. equal before God, 2. equal before the law, 3. equal in their rights. 3) What is an inalienable right? An inalienable right is one which comes as an “endowment from the Creator” and cannot be violated without coming under the judgment of God. 4) Which inalienable rights were listed in the Declaration of Independence? Life liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 5) Give an example of an inalienable right which is essential to the pursuit of happiness. To enjoy the right to acquire, develop and dispose of property. Without the protection of property rights, all other rights are placed in serious jeopardy. 6) What is the purpose of government? To protect the inalienable rights of the people, and to provide “liberty under law,” which means that no law should be passed unless it is specifically designed to protect the freedom, liberty, and well-being of the people. 7) What is a democracy? It is a government wherein decisions are made by the masses of the people rather than by elected representatives. 8) What is a republic? A system in which the laws are passed and decisions made by the elected representatives of the people. 9) Why did Jefferson call the American system a democratic-republic? Because the system allows the masses of qualified voters to participate in the election of their officials (democracy) and then the people’s elected representatives enact the laws and administer the affairs of the people under majority rule but with the equal protection of individual rights (a republic). 10) Why is separation of power safer than concentration of power? Government is “force” which Washington compared to “fire” and said government is a “dangerous servant” and a “fearful master.” Power should be dispersed among the people where they can keep it under control. 11) Why do we have such a complicated and expensive government today? The professional politicians learned that in a war, depression, or a serious crisis, the people will endure higher taxes and a far greater concentration of authority on the higher levels of government. Certain politicians therefore set out to exploit every emergency as an excuse for the acquiring of more power. During most of the twentieth century ambitious politicians trumpeted the message that government can solve practically all problems better than the people. Today, as a result, Americans are being literally “programmed” to death, and taxes have skyrocketed.

Space only allowed me to address a few questions. I will present more questions next month on subjects such as: Socialism, usurpation of power, The New Deal, The New World Order, judicial legislation, interpretation of the Constitution, power of the Federal Government, the National Debt, welfare, Foreign Aid, Social Security, Federal Income Tax, EPA, OSHA, government land ownership, Equal Rights Amendment, Abortions, Gold and Silver Standard, Control of Firearms, and the Modern Method of Electing Senators.

February

America, A Land of Frontiers
Excerpts from a speech by Senator Orrin G. Hatch

Peter Fetcher, a young man of a mere twenty years, believed that America was still a land of frontiers. He was so convinced that this great land was still great and mighty, that he undertook a perilous journey to earn the right to live here. Like our pioneer forefathers, he began a trek across a deadly wilderness to come to America. His trek was not thousands of miles, like the journeys of our ancestors. It was a mere one hundred yards.

He began his journey at a dead run. Arms driving, legs pumping, his hear pounding in his chest and hands. He drove himself with all the strength of his slight frame. He could see his objective, the end of his journey a mere one hundred yards in front of him.

For the first twenty-five yards he ran in desperate silence. The only sound he heard was the drawing of his lungs and the sound of his feet slapping on the cement. At forty yards he was suddenly blinded by the searing brightness of several bright spotlights. His path was now clearly illuminated, but he knew that his time was short.

At fifty yards he heard the sound of shouting voices. They warned him to stop. They demanded his return. They shouted obscenities and threats of death. But on he ran. Onward, onward, to America, America!

At seventy-five yards he heard the sound of gunfire, rapid, deadly.

At eighty yards the rounds from the .50-caliber weapon began kicking up gravel and concrete around his feet. He ran! He ran!

At ninety yards he felt a sudden, piercing pain in his back, then another in his leg. He stumbled. He fell. He crawled. He would make it! He would!

As Peter Fetcher struggled across those last few yards, his journey’s end, the world around him suddenly became very still. He struggled in silence. Closer! Closer!

At ninety-five yards a single shot brought peter Fetcher’s journey to an end and he lay silent, dying in his own blood, five feet east of the Berlin Wall.

Around the world the eyes and hearts of millions of people watched in stunned stillness as newspapers and television stations reported in fifty languages the incredible story of Peter and his desperate journey toward freedom.

We listened to the recorded words of a friend who had escaped the same day, who said, “We wanted to go to America! It was worth it to us! We would do anything! We wanted to go to America!”

We also listened to the statements of an American Army first lieutenant who stood at the wall, on the western side, and watched in horrified helplessness as a thin, sandy-haired boy, died with a smile on his face. The American, he too but a lad, said, “I would have done anything to help him! Anything! There was nothing I could do.”

What made Peter Fetcher make that incredibly impossible trip? Where was the motivation in the life of a successful college student whose future held nothing but promise? How could such a lad – bright, full of live, a career filled with promise – how could such a boy, knowing the impossible chances of success, undertake such a task? The answer can be found in a word. A single word uttered with his dying breath: AMERICA!

America, a nation forged in the fires of freedom and fertility? America, a land of unclimbable mountains which have been climbed, and impassable rivers which have been crossed, and unlivable deserts which have been cultivated an caressed into the most beautiful land in the world. America, a land of frontiers.

January 2008

I Wrote an article last month entitled, “America Needs To Turn Back To God”.
This poem deals with the same subject.
It is written by Judge Roy Moore, and it is used by permission.

America the beautiful,
Or so you used to be.
Land of the Pilgrims’ pride;
I’m glad they’ll never see.

Babies piled in dumpsters,
Abortion on demand,
Oh, sweet land of liberty;
Your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly
Poisoned by cocaine
Choosing to indulge their lusts,
When God has said abstain

From sea to shining sea,
Our Nation turns away
From the teaching of God’s love
And a need to always pray

We’ve kept God in our temples,
How callous we have grown.
When earth is but His footstool,
And Heaven is His throne.

We’ve voted in a government
that’s rotting at the core,
Appointing Godless Judges;
Who throw reason out the door,

Too soft to place a killer
In a well deserved tomb,
But brave enough to kill a baby
Be fore he leaves the womb.

You think that God’s not angry,
That our land’s a moral slum?
How much longer will He wait
Before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God,
From Whom we cannot hide?
What then is left for us to do,
But stem this evil tide?

If we who are His children,
Will humbly turn and pray;
Seek His holy face
And mend our evil way:

Then God will hear from Heaven;
And forgive us of our sins,
He’ll heal our sickly land
And those who live within.

But, America the Beautiful,
If you don’t - then you will see,
A sad but Holy God
Withdraw His hand from Thee.

~~Judge Roy Moore~~

This says it all. May we all offer our prayers for Judge Moore to be blessed and and for America to wake up and realize what we need to do to keep OUR America the Beautiful.

Pass this on and let’s lift Judge Moore up in Prayer.
 

December 2007

America Needs To Turn Back to God (Before it is too late)

November 2007

GIVE THIS TO MY DADDY...

Last week I was in Atlanta, Georgia attending a conference.  While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer.  I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen .
Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camos.   As they began heading to their gate, everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering. 
 When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for, it hit me. I’m not alone.  I’m not the only red-blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.
Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.  
 Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service men and women, a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old, ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said “hi.”  
 The little girl then asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her. 
 The young soldier, who didn’t look any older than maybe 22, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy.  Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.
The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter’s name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now.  As the mom was explaining how much her daughter Courtney missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up. 
  When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second.  Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military-looking walkie-talkie.  They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it.
 After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, “I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.” He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying “your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is Coming home very soon.”
The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet, he saluted Courtney and her mom.  I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event.
 As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause.  As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own.  That young soldier in one last act of selflessness, turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.
We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it’s good to be an American.

 RED FRIDAYS -----  Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the “silent majority”. We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. 
 We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing. We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops.
 
Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday-and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that.. Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red. 
 By word of mouth, press, TV -- let’s make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers.
If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once “silent” majority is on their side more than ever; certainly more than the media lets on.
The first thing a soldier says when asked “What can we do to make things better for you?” is...We need your support and your prayers.
Let’s get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example; and wear something red every Friday.

October 2007

Who is the Devil?
(Do you know your enemy?)

It is best not to base your theology on Hollywood movies. If you did you would have to conclude that God is a feeble old man who pops into your life when you are not expecting it, that angels spend their time fixing the outcome of baseball games, and that demons are impish little fellows who like to play pranks on unsuspecting folks on Halloween. None of that describes what really is true.

Another thing that Hollywood gets wrong is their description of Satan. They want you to believe that he wears a red suit, has horns, and carries a pitchfork. None of that is true. They want you to believe that he roams the earth looking to get unsuspecting people to sign a contract for their soul in exchange for popularity or power or riches. That is not true, either.

In some movies he is portrayed as foolish and easily fooled by humans. In other movies he is portrayed as being charming and socially adept. Neither of these extremes is an accurate portrayal.

Now that we know what not to believe about Satan, we must determine what to believe. The Bible says two things about him repeatedly and emphatically: he is a real being and he is your enemy.

You might be asking, “Why would I want to spend my time learning about Satan?”

The reason is that we are at war, spiritual war, and he is the leader of the enemy forces.

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Ephesians 6:11-14.

Picture this: You are in Vietnam. The year is 1966. You and your platoon of U.S. Marines are out on patrol. The lieutenant chooses you to be the “point-man” today. You know that an enormous responsibility has been placed on you. You must be vigilant. If you don’t watch out and guard against the enemy, your troops could be destroyed. The enemy could get between you and your troops, divide you, and conquer you.

You are a “point-man” for your family. You are out on patrol – all of the time. You must watch out for the enemy. Don’t let the enemy attack you or your family. Don’t let the enemy divide you and conquer you. In Vietnam, it was hard to recognize the enemy, because everyone looked the same. In the spiritual warfare against your family, it is hard to recognize the enemy. Men: the enemy may be disguised as a beautiful woman, seeking to divide your family and destroy you and your family. Women: the enemy may be disguised as a handsome man, seeking to destroy you and your family.

Don’t let the enemy attack you. Your family is depending on you.

September

A Hero of the Faith

He was the fifth son of a smallholder and mason in Northfield, Massachusetts. His father died of too much whiskey when he was four. The family of eight was reared in poverty by its mother, and the young boy’s education was erratic because he was needed on the farm. He disliked farming, and at seventeen he went to Boston to take a job in a shoe store run by his uncles.

In the Sunday School of their Boston church, the lad came to a very definite conversion to Christ on April 21, 1855.

The young man was well built, a hard worker, ambitious and full of fun. In 1856 he migrated to Chicago and soon found work in a shoe store. Here he became more and more absorbed in Christian work among the roughest boys and girls in Chicago’s slums. At first he felt himself too uneducated to preach or teach, but soon developed a breezy gift of making the Bible come alive.

His desire to win souls became so strong that in 1860 he gave up his business career to run his children’s mission, and the new YMCA, without salary. During the Civil War he served as a lay chaplain. He was never ordained. By 1865, he had become a highly effective homespun evangelist.

In 1862 he married Emma Revell. They had two sons and a daughter. His happy home life gave him a firm base for his work and travels.

In 1870 he met Ira D. Sankey, a young civil servant with an untrained but very fine voice. The young preacher persuaded Sankey to join him to lead the singing at the independent church on Chicago Avenue which had grown up around his mission in the city’s slums. In October 1871 a great fire destroyed Chicago and all that the evangelist had built up there. While in New York that winter to raise funds to rebuild the churches, he underwent a profound spiritual renewal. In 1872 he visited Britain briefly. He had not intended to preach, but his effectiveness and freshness led to three independent invitations to return for a prolonged mission. It was on this visit also that he heard an ex-butcher, Henry Varley, remark, “The world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to him.” The eager preacher resolved to be that man.

In June 1873 the evangelist and Sankey landed in Liverpool, England, to find no arrangements, organisation or funds. They therefore took up an invitation to York, where they began an entirely unprepared mission in a most unlikely city, with such success that they were invited to the great industrial town of Newcastle.

The real breakthrough came in Edinburgh where unconventional preaching and Sankey’s singing reached right to the heart of the people. All Scotland was stirred by this preaching and Sankey singing during 1874; their own evangelism inspired many lesser campaigns. The preacher developed the “after meeting” or enquiry room, worked closely with the churches, and emphasised the need for pastoral care of converts. His strong social concern sparked off new movements for the relief of distress and for the bodily and spiritual welfare of the young.

The British campaign reached its climax in London from March to July 1875. Thousands were brought to Christ.

The United States now opened up, and campaigns took place during the later 1870s and after. Clergy and laity of many denominations cooperated in preparation and follow-up.

The proceeds of the vast sale of Sacred Songs and Solos were put into a trust fund, out of which were founded the Northfield School for girls who were too poor to obtain good education (1879), followed by Mount Hermon (1881) for boys.

From 1882-1884 the evangelists were again in Britain. By the end of the second London campaign the aged Lord Shaftesbury spoke of an unprecedented movement among the very poor “towards a knowledge of the Word of God.”

Despite heart trouble in his later years, the evangelist refused to let up. He was taken ill during a campaign at Kansas city in November 1899 and died on December 22 at the age of sixty-two.

Today, you can still drive down LaSalle Blvd in Chicago, not far from Lake Michighan and Wrigley Field, and see the fruits of his ministry. The evangelist’s name was of course Dwight L Moody, who founded the Moody Bible Institute where thousands of preachers and missionaries have been trained for the cause of Christ.
 

August 2007

I have always tried to live my life with no regrets when I look back at the end of the day. And maybe on my tombstone it will say just that simple phrase, "No regrets". Yet, one of the biggest daily challenges I face is dying to my flesh or things of this world. And the only way I can win the over them is to ask Jesus for help. When was the last time you just awoke in the morning and ask the Lord for help? Help me Lord today to live for you and not for this world. Be with me Lord every second this day and help me make decisions that bring me closer to you."

July 2007 - WE FALL DOWN WE GET UP

Cursing ev’ry step of the way, He bore a heavy load

To the market ten miles away, the journey took its toll

And ev’ry day he passed a monastery’s high cathedral walls

And it made his life seem meaningless and small

And he wondered how it would be to live in such a place

To be warm, well fed, and at peace; to shut the world away

So when he saw a priest who walked for once beyond the iron gate

He said, “Tell me of your life inside that place.”

And the priest replied:

We fall down we get up

We fall down we get up

We fall down we get up

And the saints are just the sinners who fall down and get up.

Several years ago, Mark Lowry had a big hit from this song titled, We Fall Down.  The spiritual truth that it holds is astounding. The priest, in an attempt to live a more godly life, had hidden himself away in a monastery-a place that should be free from sin. However, since humans lived there, sin did abound.

The singer, too, desired a more godly life so he asked that priest how to live one. The response was, “We fall down and get up.  The saints are just the sinners who fall down and get up.”

Falling down is a part of the Christian walk.  American philosopher, Elbert Hubbard, defined death as “a sudden end to sinning.” As hard as we try, sin is still in all of our lives. The person that says proudly, “I have rid my life of every trace of sin,” suddenly needs to deal with the sin of pride.

According to Henry Ford the definition of defeat is: “An opportunity to begin again more intelligently.”

“The Victorious Christian Life is a series of New Beginnings.” Alexander Whyte

Life, like war, is a series of mistakes, and he is not the best Christian nor the best general who makes the fewest false steps. Poor mediocrity may secure that; but he is the best who wins the most splendid victories by the retrieval of mistakes. Forget mistakes; organize victories out of mistakes.”

F.W. Robertson

August 12, 1849

June 2007 - Belated Mother’s Day Wishes

I trust that all of our lady readers had a nice Mother’s Day. I know my wife did. Even though it was unfortunate that the Saturday night May 12^th NASCAR race was rained out at Darlington, my wife sure enjoyed watching the race on Mother’s Day. She is a big NASCAR fan. I won’t say who her favorite driver is, but let’s put is this way: It is like a divided household when the husband is for Alabama and the wife is for Auburn. You know what I mean. Well, enough of that. Let me give you a brief history on Mother’s Day.

It may surprise you to know that the woman who is responsible for Mother’s Day was never a mother, herself, but she was a daughter who loved her own mother dearly.  Anna M. Jarvis was a schoolteacher who never married. She was the daughter of a Methodist minister. When her mother became ill, Miss Jarvis was her devoted caretaker for 15 years, until the mother’s death in 1905.

After her loss, Miss Jarvis set out to find a permanent way to honor the memory of her mother, and came up with the idea of a special day to honor ALL mothers, no just her own.  Unfortunately, the idea of a national day to honor mothers did not catch on easily.  For several years, Miss Jarvis waged a letter-writing campaign and a barrage of letters from she and her friends began to arrive at the homes of influential people, all the way up to the president, himself.

Miss Jarvis coined the name, “Mother’s Day,” and obtained a copyright for the name from the U.S. Patent Office. Finally, after years of speeches and letter writing, her efforts paid off, and Mother’s Day became a national observance when President Woodrow Wilson signed it into effect in 1914.

Anna Jarvis lived another 34 years and was able to see her idea grow, not only across the United States, but also to spread to many other countries. She spent much of her time promoting the new holiday. Unfortunately, however, the day, like many other holidays, became so commercialized that Miss Jarvis had deep regrets that shed had been instrumental in bringing the day about. Much of Miss Jarvis’ remaining money was spent in a fight to keep “Mother’s Day” from being promoted as nothing more than another occasion for people to buy expensive gifts, but she did not succeed.

When Anna Jarvis passed away in 1948, a wreath of 43 carnations, her mothers’ favorite flower, adorned her grave, depicting the 43 countries that now celebrated Mother’s Day.

As a tribute to Miss Jarvis, please join me in honoring our mothers on “Mother’s Day” and every day.

Exodus 20:12 (part of the Ten Commandments) Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

May 2007

I am a terrorist. At least that is the word that the judge used at my trial.

To be honest I had never thought about it before. Sure I had committed crimes but they were all necessary.

You see, I am a Jew and my people are being ruthlessly subjugated by their despicable Roman masters. I had stood by for years watching the lifeblood of my people ebb away. Finally I could stand it no more. How can my people be free if we do not fight to be free? So, I found likeminded brothers and we led an insurrection.

I had to steal in order to fund the rebellion. And then when the fight came we went toe-to-toe with the Romans. There were many more of them but we fought valiantly. I even had opportunity to kill some of them before they captured me. I remember savoring the power I felt as my sword entered each of them.

It was just a few days later that I found myself standing before Pilate. Some underling read the charges-robbery, inciting a riot, acts of terror, murder of a Roman citizen. All of these charges carried the death penalty. And all of them I wore as a badge of honor. If I am sentenced to death the perhaps it will serve as a rallying point for my people. My death will have purpose. When Pilate asked, “How do you plead?” I spit back the words, “Guilty, and proud of it!”

It was really not much of a trial-reading the charges, a few witnesses, a few Roman soldiers testified and then the sentence-death by crucifixion. My execution was to be carried out the next day, Friday. I was beaten then put in a cell to await my destiny.

I spent the night wondering what the next few hours held-Would they take me from my cell and beat me more? Would I pass out from the pain? How would it feel as they nailed my hands and feet to a cross? How long would I suffer before death finally came? What happens after death?

I lay in silence on the floor of my cell consumed with these thoughts. Suddenly, the guards burst in and grabbed me. Surely it was not time for my crucifixion yet. Were they taking me to beat me again? No, we were headed for judgment seat.

I found myself standing before Pilate once again. There was a large crowd assembled. A guard jerked me around so that I faced the crowd with Pilate behind me and up a few steps. To my right was that holy man, that Jesus of Nazareth. I had heard him once. He had some strange ideas. He had told the crowd to love their enemies. I could never love the Romans. But as strange as his ideas were I could not understand why he and I were both being treated as criminals. I was guilty but as best I knew he had broken no law.

The next thing that happened really caught me off guard. Pilate told the crowd that one of the two of us was to go free. He said, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ.” The crowd chose me. I was stunned. I had committed my crimes and had resigned myself to fate. Suddenly I was free. It was hard to take it all in. They released my chains and I walked away, disappearing into the crowd. Everyone was focused on Jesus.

I wandered the streets sorting through the events. Curious, I decided to go out to Golgotha and watch the execution. Standing near the back I had the strangest sensation. Everything seemed like a dream. My mind was numb.

I was snapped back to reality when I heard him cry out as they drove the nails. That is when it hit me-that should be me! I saw his body jerk from the impact of the cross being dropped into place. That should be me! I watched, with tears in my eyes and a strange sense of peace, as he cried out to God. That should be me! And then he died. And that too should be me.

I realized that Jesus and I had traded places. I was guilty. He was innocent. I live because he died.*

We also live because Jesus died. We are just like Barabbas. Christ took our punishment, and gave us life through his death.

*Bruce Word, Pastor, CrossPoint Community Church

April 2007 - Let The Lower Lights Be Burning

Philip Paul Bliss was directing the singing for a series of services being conducted by the well-known preacher Dwight L. Moody. As he closed his message, Moody told the story of a captain who was attempting to bring his boat to the Cleveland harbor one very dark and stormy night.

       The waves rolled like mountains, Moody said, and not a star was to be seen in the clouded sky. He pictured the boat rocking on the violent waves as the captain peered through the darkness for the sight of a signal light by means of which to guide his vessel to safety. When he finally spotted a single light from the light-house, he turned to the pilot and asked:

       “Are you sure this is Cleveland harbor?”

       “Quite sure, sir,” the pilot replied.

       “Then where are the lower lights?” the captain continued.

       “Gone out, sir,” the other man answered.

       “Can you make the harbor?” the captain asked anxiously.

       “We must, or perish, sir,” the pilot replied.

       But despite his strong heart and brave hand, in the darkness he missed the channel. With a resounding crash the boat piled up on the rocks and then settled slowly to a watery grave.

       As the congregation listened intently, Moody concluded with this admonition to the Christians:

       “Brethren, the Master will take care of the great light-house; let us keep the lower lights burning.”

       That was all Bliss needed to pen one of his most popular hymns, “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning.”

       Let the Lower Lights Be Burning

 

1     Brightly beams our Father’s mercy

From His lighthouse evermore,

But to us He gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore.

2           Dark the night of sin has settled,

Loud the angry billows roar;

Eager eyes are watching, longing

For the lights along the shore.

3           Trim your feeble lamp, my brother!

Some poor sailor, tempest tossed,

Trying now to make the harbor,

In the darkness may be lost.

Chorus  Let the lower lights be burning,

Send a gleam across the wave!

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

March 2007 - Keep in touch with GOD

Jake, the rancher went one day,

To fix a distant fence. 

The wind was cold and gusty;

The clouds rolled gray and dense. 

As he pounded the last staples in

And gathered his tools to go,

The temperature had fallen;

The wind and snow began to blow.

When he finally reached his pickup,

He felt a heavy heart;

From the sound of that ignition,

He knew it wouldn't start!

So Jake did what most of us would do,

Had we been there. 

He humbly bowed his balding head

And sent aloft a prayer.

As he turned the key for one last time,

He softly cursed his luck.

They found him three days later,

Frozen stiff in that old truck.

Now Jake had been around in life

And done his share of roaming.

But when he saw Heaven, he was shocked –

It looked just like Wyoming!

Of all the saints in Heaven,

His favorite was St. Peter.

(Now, this line ain't really needed,

But it helps with rhyme and meter)

So they set and talked a minute or two,

Or maybe it was three.

Nobody was keeping score –

In Heaven time is free.

"I've always heard," Jake said to Pete,

"That God will answer prayer,

But one time when I asked for help,

Well, He just plain wasn't there."

"Does God answer prayers of some,

And ignore the prayers of others?

That don't seem exactly square –

I know all men are brothers."

"Or does he randomly reply,

Without good rhyme or reason?

Maybe, it's the time of day,

The weather or the season."

"Now I ain't trying to act smart,

It's just the way I feel. 

And I was wondering, could you tell me –

What the heck's the deal?!" 

Peter listened patiently,

And when old Jake was done,

There were smiles of recognition,

And he said, "So, you're the one!!" 

"That day! Your truck; It wouldn't start,

And you sent your prayer a flying,

You gave us all a real bad time,

With hundreds of us all trying."  

"A thousand angels rushed,

To check the status of your file,

But you know, Jake,

We hadn't heard from you, in quite a long while." 

"And though all prayers are answered,

And God ain't got no quota,

He didn't recognize your voice,

And started a truck in Minnesota!"

BETTER KEEP IN TOUCH! 

Don’t