"America The Beautiful"

[first of all, let me say, many of the ideas and information for this post came from Bob Ingram in his sermon "One Nation Brick by Brick" which you can listen to H.E.R.E.  Also, The Husband and I had just finished the conference "Living on Borrowed Time" with Dr. David Reagan which you can listen to H.E.R.E.  While taking notes, I added my own editorial opinion and so this is all entangled and expounded upon. - In other words, I'm not sure who's words are who's. And hope all involved will forgive my un-organization in that matter.]

"America the Beautiful"

The skies are still spacious

Amber waves of grain are no longer blowing in the midwest.

Wheat harvest has come and gone for most of us in Oklahoma and Kansas.

But in the faith I was raised with - 

I know the amber waves will be blowing again next year.

"America"

My Country Tis of Thee - Sweet Land of Liberty.

"The Star Spangled Banner"

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light.

I'm sure that you - like me can hear these songs in your head as you read this. Or maybe some of you even sang them aloud.

Beautiful songs. America's songs. Our songs.

But....

God doesn't get goose bumps when he hears these songs. When we stand in a crowd with our hands on our hearts - many times with tears on our faces - God doesn't get goose bumps. 

We have become a country - though at times very patriotic - that is on a  downhill slide - a country that has let God slip away. - Maybe that is putting it too nicely. We have pushed Him away and ordered Him out of our country and our lives.

Have you ever been to the Oklahoma Memorial? The Murrow Building destruction? Across the street at St. Joseph's Catholic Church - which was also damaged in the bombing, you will see a monument erected for all those lost on that day.

Jesus Wept

photo used by permission from Crimsonedge34

And if you are there, you will realize that Jesus has turned his back on the area of the bombing. This is the picture I see in my mind when I think of what we have done to God in our country. I believe He weeps, I believe He will turn His back on us and I believe that being a just God, we will pay dearly for our apathy and our derisiveness of Him.

What God calls murder -

We call a woman's right.

******

What God calls homosexuality - 

We call an alternative lifestyle

and our right.

******

What God calls lust - 

We call adult entertainment - porn.

******

I can go on.

Are these issues political? 

Does the fault lie within the -

Supreme Court?

The White House?

Our State Government?

or

With me?
With you?
Our homes?
 Our Churches?

All of the above?

It's time to stand up and push back. - 
oh, don't stand up and push back for our country -

Stand up and push back for JESUS.

What we call practicing our faith -

Many around us call intolerance. 

When we don't accept anti-Biblical truth as the normal -

Many around us call us intolerant.

Not long ago, the word ‘tolerance’ meant ‘bearing or putting up with someone or something not especially liked.” However, now the word has been redefined to “all values, all beliefs, all lifestyles, all truth claims are equal.” Denying this makes a person “intolerant,” and thus worthy of contempt. It has also come to mean that if you have a Judeo-Christian faith and hold to the teachings of the Bible – you are considered intolerant.

It is now time to stand up and push back.

Stand Up And Push Back For Jesus.