FREEDOM!!!
Here is an interesting little tidbit. The Supreme Court ruled in 1892 that The United States IS a Christian nation. Direct quote;
"subject, is granted and secured; but to revile, with malicious and blasphemous contempt, the religion professed by almost the whole community is an abuse of that right. Nor are we bound by any expressions in the Constitution, as some have strangely supposed, either not to punish at all, or to punish indiscriminately the like attacks upon the reli...gion of Mahomet or of the Grand Lama, and for this plain reason, that the case assumes that we are a Christian people, and the morality of the country is deeply engrafted upon Christianity, and not upon the doctrines or worship of those impostors."
First amendment protects your freedom to be and practice your Christian faith. The Supreme Court ruled that we are a Christian nation. We shouldn't have any Religious Freedom Restoration Act! It is already covered!! This is the reason I love this country! Up until the past few decades has everything gotten so chaotic. We must get back to when we were great! Back when we were UNITED!! Those who are in power at this time are only wanting to gain power over all of us and strip us of our freedoms. Let's get our heads out of our butts, get truly educated with who we truly are. When you try and force us Christians to be quite, you are pushing your best friend away.
Christian, quit beating a select few in the head with your Bible, Love just like Christ loves you. Quit being a hypocrite and maybe, just maybe, revival could come to our land and all could be made right.

  As I sit and watch and listen to every sort of argument concerning our rights as Americans and see our society get more and more chaotic, I am forced to state the obvious. This is an attempt to impart some common sense in this senseless world.
  I want to go back to a beginning. Our country came about by many events from Christopher Columbus making the discovery of this land in 1492 or all the way back to 1215 to the Magna Carta.  I will stay with the familiar and begin with The Declaration of Independence signed on July 4th 1776. In this beginning document signed by 57 noble men declaring our country independent from Britain and it must be noted that they all were praying men. Ben Franklin was a part of the whole process and he wrote in a letter; "The small progress we have made after 4 or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other -- our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of ...the imperfection of the Human Understanding......... In this situation of this Assembly groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. -- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered."
  The term "Father of lights" is a term from scripture, exactly found in James 1:17, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
  There are many who say that we were not a country built on Christian principles, but here is but one of many examples of proof that our country was, indeed, built upon Christian principles. This is my desire, to point those who will read or hear my thoughts to come to realize that we are way off the mark in our society.
  So, back to the Declaration of Independence. In the opening paragraphs, we see God as the key authority in making a declaration of a free country;


  In Congress, July 4, 1776
  The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
  When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.


  Nature's God is spoken of in the very first paragraph! A free country is a product of our Creator! Scripture makes reference again to the source of this statement; "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead..." (Romans 1:20) If they were praying men. Praying to the Father of Lights. Doesn't it make sense that we were built upon Christian principles?
  Let's read on;


  "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 these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men...."


  "They are endowed by their Creator". What are the "unalienable rights"? "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" Again Creator God is mentioned and His gifts to men are laid out. When we take God out of the equation, life becomes meaningless. Abortion on demand, joy killings, high murder rates, or lack of respect to our fellow countrymen become lacking. Screaming equal rights but squashing the rights of someone with another view has become commonplace. Hatred towards another robs the freedom of conscious for the hater as well as the hated. This is not liberty. There is no true happiness in our day. we all are pursuing more of what we already have enough of. We all are in debt from our personal finances to the federal government. Debt robs us of life, because we can't live it. It robs us of liberty because we become slaves to the one we owe. Put those together and we have no happiness.
  Take a moment and think about what was promised in scripture concerning life. Jesus said in John 10:10,  "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Life more abundant. Don't we want that? The framers of our republic wanted it, prayed for it, and God gave it because they prayed in the name of Jesus who is the giver of life.
  What about liberty? 1 Corinthians 3:17,
"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
We have taken our liberty to focus only on our personal wants that we are killing the liberty of another which causes your liberty to be taken in the long run. Listen to the writer of Galatians 5:13,

"For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." Where the Spirit of the Lord is we have liberty. When we become so consumed by our own wants and forget the wants of another, liberty is taken from us all.

  There is no true happiness when we push the God out that the founding Fathers clung so tightly to. Wake up America.

  The Declaration goes on to list the grievances toward Britain and reasons why we are to be Independent. The last paragraph is as follows;

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. —And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

  They made reference to God as the "Supreme Judge of the world". I have already noted the Christian principles that guided our Fathers. The God of the Jew and the Christian is who is the Supreme Judge spoken of here. He provided every protection and provided every need to make us grow to the greatest country to ever exist outside of Israel.

  I beg all who read, let's get this country back to the Christ who made it possible to be a country. There is a moral guide that needs to be followed. Morality is not inside of us, it is outside and must be followed. Take a good look around. Everyone is angry. Let's come together under one banner. Be united. Let's be united under the living banner of Christ just as our country did in the very beginning.

  

Psalm 33:12
 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Do you not see? Do you not understand? I was there when the Ten Commandments were stripped from the walls of schools and court houses. Times were good. the people felt safe. the kids were happy. Families were close and strong. Years have passed and the knowledge of sin is no more, since the Commandments of the Lord are now forgotten. Now, Jesus is no longer allowed in the schools and court houses and a lot of churches. Now times aren't good at all. I don't feel safe, the nation is wide open and we have evil running the country. The kids are self centered and angry, killing, and spreading sexual diseases. Marriage is very weak, few know what it even means anymore. Family is so weak and in a lot of cases, nonexistent. What is needed? I hope you ask. We must get back to our roots. Back to the One who blessed us in the beginning. We must come to acknowledge our sin before our Creator and fully embrace our only hope, Jesus.

OUR PURPOSE AS THE CHURCH,

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

Why does the church exist? What is our primary purpose?
Sing hymns and preach sermons?
Present the Gospel to the lost?
To bring hope to the hurting?
Provide a place for worship and instruction?
Equip the Saints for the work of the ministry?
To prepare children for life?
To provide for the needy?
To stimulate action on social issues?
Teach the scriptures?
Be a model of righteousness? All of these are vital and necessary, but none are the central reason for the Church's existence.
The primary Purpose;
1 Corinthians 10:31 gives the answer; "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD."
   That's it!! Our sole purpose is to glorify the Lord our God. Whatever we could do from our list above, we do it for His Glory! The Corinthian Church wasn't the only one assigned to radiate God's glory. If we would wander over to Romans, Paul instructs them as well in 15:5&6, "Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus; that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
   It doesn't matter if you been an active member in Church since you were a kid or you are brand new in the congregationn, we are all to glorify God in one accord! What did Jesus say about the farmer who hired help in the morning, at noon and again at evening time? When it was time to pay, they all got the same wage!!
Look in Ephesians 1:10-12, "In him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ should be to the PRAISE OF HIS GLORY!"
Church, glorify God!! This truth rings through scripture like wedding bells. We could have dynamic preaching or awesome music. We could have the latest in technology in presenting power points, but if God's glory is not the primary focus, all is empty. His glory must be the underlying motive for all we do.
Do you teach? Do it for His glory!
Do you preach? Do it for His glory!
Take care of the treasury? His glory!
Lead in worship? His glory!
Play a musical instrument? His glory!
Operate audio and visual systems? His glory!
Take up the offering? His glory!
Marquee ministry? His glory!!    Can you imagine fueling every action, every word, every Church program with the glory of God?? What would happen? 2 Thessalonians 1:11&12 says, "To this end also we pray for you always that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power; in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
   Amazing fact!!! As we glorify God, we are glorified in Him! Glory leads to more glory! This is why Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven." Not just doing a good deed. It's in how you walk above all the ill issues of life and can still have a smile on your face and clean language coming from your lips! Truth draws people!!   All it takes is one person with a burning desire to glorify God! Then that flame can touch off brush fires of glory that can blaze across any spiritual landscape. I come from Kansas and in the spring they burn off the prairies and fields for new growth. At night time, watching a line of fire dance across a field is a most amazing sight! I can see the blaze of God's glory burning across any city if His people could catch this!
What is this glory?
  First, Exodus 40:34 ~ "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."
This isn't a 25 watt light bulb inside the Dallas Cowboys Stadium. This was like an expolding nova! To enter in inappropriately meant sudden death.
   Second, 1 Corinthians 15:39-41 ~ "All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars;for star differs from star in glory."
Glory pulsates from the planets just as it pulsates from earthbound creatures.
God's holy brilliance in the ancient tabernacle nor the glory found in creation is the glory best describes the glory the church is to radiate.

John the Baptist lived the third kind of glory. The kind of glory the churh should demonstrate. John 1:23-27 ~ "He said, "I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,’ as Isaiah the prophet said." Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, and said to him, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" John answered them saying, "I baptize fnin water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. "It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."
   Remember what he said to his disciples who asked him as to why Jesus' ministry was growing and John's was falling apart. "He must increase, but I must decrease." ( John3:30)
   Glory, then, as it relates to us, the Church, means to magnify and elevate the Lord God as we diminish and deny ourselves. It means being occupied with and commited to His ways rather than preoccupied with and determined to go my own way.

   What did Isaiah say? "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8&9)
   We cannot seek personal glory and God's glory at the same time!
   When life gets hard, seek His glory in patiently waiting for His guidance. When it seems as if the stress will over power you, think on Him and His promises! One day, it will be like waking from a bad dream when you enter into His rest!!
   We can't dwell on the questions of will our Chruch will grow or die, just concentrate on His glory! All this is said to remind you, me ,us, that as we focus totally on Him, His glory, His praise, and His Word, His glory will surround us and we will begin to radiate Him! Those who don't know Him will see Him in us, personally and corporately and be drawn in.
   Know what a lunar eclipse is? The moon passes behind the earth directly away from the sun. The moon eases into the earth's shadow. For a short time, the moon is deprived of the sun's light. So, the earth gets in the way of the sun, the moon don't reflect the sun light and it even cools-until it is brought back into the sun's light again. We, as Christians, are just like that moon! Sometimes we bask in the light of our Lord Jesus and sometimes, the earth just gets in the way. We start cooling for Him, live according to the worlds standards and seek our own glory. We dim out and cool down from living for Him. Is it time to get the earth out of the way? Personally as well as corporately? I think yes, it is past time.

　

Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
I spent much of my day thinking of this verse. I am stuck on the word "abide". Here are some synonyms for abide: comply with · obey · observe · follow · keep to · hold to · conform to · adhere to · stick to · stand by · act in accordance with · uphold · heed · accept · go along with · acknowledge · respect · defer to. So, what Jesus is expecting from His disciples (if you claim to be a Christian, you should be a disciple) is to have a lifestyle where He is exclusively followed. It seems to have  changed from our abiding with Him to Him abiding with us! Abiding with Him is to be following Him, going where He goes. Now, He is supposed to abide with us! We can now take Him to the casino and bingo halls. We can take Him into any sexual experience we chose, whether with anybody or alone with your computer. We can use His name to cheat our fellow man. We can take Him on our drinking parties. And on the list goes. Where ever you want Him to abide, He will go. Why? Because, without Him, we can't do anything.
Wrong! He is the Vine, we are the branches.............
Because this is the new norm and He never changes, heed the warning of His next words......... “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned." (John 15:6) That sounds like hell!
We need a revival! Will you let it begin in you?

Revelation 21:6-8
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second deat...h.”
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Could someone explain this passage to me? I am interpreting this that Jesus is saying that if I overcome sin in my life, I will inherit all things in Heaven. Then He seems to go and share a list of those who will go to hell. I must be misinterpreting this! Because I see so many living those on the hell list claiming to be headed to Heaven.

Gospel Presentation