The Coolest Thanksgiving

 

Why not make this the Coolest Thanksgiving Ever?

 

We all can remember back to Thanksgiving Days past. Perhaps it is the smell of a turkey and pumpkin pie cooking, or the gathering together of family and friends. Maybe it was the road trip to Grandma’s house, or even perhaps the all-day parades and football. Whatever the memories are for you that reality is that those times play an important part in the forming of who you are and in who you have come to be.

Holidays make an excellent time to “make memories” for you and your family. President Thomas Jefferson thought the concept of Thanksgiving was “the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever heard.” Kind of makes you wonder what some of his memories were of family gatherings!

Take the time to remember some of those old family traditions, so that you can honor the past in your life. Take time to enjoy the present, so that you do not wish your life away. And then, take time to make future memories, so that, should the Lord tarry, your children will still have a reason to get together and reminisce.

Whatever you do, why not make this holiday the Coolest Thanksgiving Day ever?

 

Serving Him by Serving You

 

pastor

Post – Election Statement

The following is a statement posted by our General Superintendent concerning our reaction to last Tuesday’s elections.

 

It can be viewed online at www.ag.org if you would rather see the video version.

 

Enjoy – and May God Bless America.

 

 

POST-ELECTION STATEMENT

Dr. George O. Wood

Assemblies of God General Superintendent

 

The election, at long last, is over.

 

As fellow believers, we offer to our new leaders the pledge of our prayers and our commitment

to be good citizens in this wonderful land that the Lord has privileged us to live in.

 

In this moment as I talk with you, I do not know the results of the election because this was

recorded prior to the election. I wanted to bring these comments to you without knowing who won –

because our responsibilities as Christians transcend politics – and we must be who we are regardless

of who wins.

 

The first century Christians lived in a time far different than ours. The government was a

repressive dictatorship. Life was cheap. Slavery was practiced. Infanticide was common. Romans

chapter one outlines the steep and deep degradation morally and ethically in the prevailing culture.

Christians then, unlike us, did not have the right to vote. In fact, throughout the first 200 plus

years of the Church, Christians were a persecuted minority.

 

Yet, those early Christians turned the world upside down and right side up. How did they do

it? Through the ballot box? No. Through electing leaders that were preferential to their point of

view? No.

 

They changed the world by being what Jesus called them to be – salt and light.

 

I must confess that during these past long months of electioneering, I let the externals of

politics take too much of my time and interest. Perhaps you did as well. It’s easy to get so overly

absorbed in politics that we lose sight of the fact that our citizenship is really in heaven – that

governments, presidents, senators, and political leaders come and go – but the kingdom of God lasts

forever.

 

I am not saying that we should not be involved, as citizens, in political issues; but I think it is

vital that we keep perspective. Our focus should be more on winning people to Jesus than winning

elections. We need to be more concerned about the progress of the Gospel than the progress of a

political party.

 

I want to call you to refocus on the health of the church – that the real answers to eternal

issues lie not in the government – but in a revitalized body of believers that transforms neighborhoods

and communities through our witness in word and deed.

 

The apostles told the first century Christians five things.

1. God is the sovereign Lord over human history and government.

In Romans 13, Paul wrote: Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for

there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been

established by God.

 

This admonition applies to any Christian living in any country at any time period – whether in

China, Uganda, Cuba, Russia, India, Nigeria, or the United States.

But, what does it mean that the authorities that exist have been established by God? Exactly

what you think it says. God raises up nations and leaders.

 

The results of this election did not catch God by surprise. Although we voted, nothing happens

without God’s permissive will. He allows us to choose good or evil and, in a democracy, the

government He gives us is the one we choose. Sometimes our vote results in leaders who fail us and

they become a means of God’s judgment; other times leaders follow after God’s heart and they

become a means of God’s blessing.

 

Daniel said to the unrighteous world ruler, Nebuchadnezzar: the Most High is sovereign over

the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men

(Daniel 4:17). To the unrighteous ruler, Pilate, governor of Judea, Jesus said: You would have no

power over me if it were not given to you from above (John 19:11).

 

So, as we come out of this election as Christians, we must catch our breath and pause. We

must put on our Biblical glasses and see Jesus as the Lord of human history. If the early Christians

could flourish under a persecuting totalitarian government, then in America we Christians have even

more reason to flourish because of the democratic system that gives us the freedom of speech,

assembly, and worship.

 

2. The second advice the apostles gave was that government is designed to restrain and

punish those who do evil.

 

Read Romans 13:3-4 or 1 Peter 2:13-17. In fact, Paul calls human government God’s servant

to do good by bringing punishment on the wrongdoer. The word he employs for servant is the same

word that elsewhere is translated as deacon. Those in civil government are meant to be God’s

deacons. They are to approve what is right, and disapprove what is wrong; and thereby serve the

cause of justice. Of course, if they fail in their task then the society and culture that they represent

crumbles. Paul’s view was that the Roman dictatorship, as bad as it was, was preferable to anarchy.

When there is no government, everyone does what is right in his or her own eyes.

 

If you don’t believe that, then remove government totally from your community for just seven

days – all kinds of mayhem to person and property would occur.

 

 

3. None of us necessarily like the third counsel given to early Christians – but, if you look in

Romans 13:6-7 you’ll find it: if you owe taxes, pay taxes! Need I say more? Without taxes, the

government cannot provide the duty it owes citizens to keep them safe from harm.

 

 

4. That brings us to the fourth counsel the apostles gave to Christians living under any

desirable or undesirable government – pray! Paul writes this to his younger colleague, Timothy: I

urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone –

the kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and

holiness (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

 

So let’s do what Paul asks. Let’s offer to God both intercession and thanksgiving for those

elected to office. Why? Not because our candidate lost or won – but because, the Lord hears our

prayers and it’s His desire that we have the kind of governmental climate which permits us to flourish

as the followers of Christ. Look at what Paul says in the next verses from 1 Timothy 2 (verses 3 and4):

This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a

knowledge of the truth. In other words, a government that provides peace for Christians makes for an

environment in which the church can multiply.

 

The apostle Paul gave the counsel to pray in the face of a looming threat of persecution. He

asked the church to pray that the oppressive and persecuting hand of the government would be

stayed. And, early Christians kept praying for that even in the midst of fierce opposition and

martyrdoms.

 

We may be inching into a day in America when Christians no longer have the favored status

they have enjoyed. Increasingly, the secular culture seeks to marginalize followers of Jesus, hold

them up to caricature, and portray them in the most unfair manner possible. There may come a day

in America when believers face outright persecution. So, we must continue to pray that the Lord will

help America to preserve its freedoms; and that, resulting from our freedoms, we may continue to see

Christ’s kingdom grow in America; and, that from our land will come a powerful awakening that results

in world-wide revival.

 

5. We are to show respect for those who hold office – whether executive, judicial, or

legislative; whether national, state, or local; whether Republican, Democrat, Independent, or other

parties. The New Testament explicitly tells us to do that. Hear the Apostle Paul: Give everyone what

you owe him . . . if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor (Romans 13:7). Hear the Apostle Peter

say the same thing: Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God,

honor the king (1 Peter 2:17).

 

Obviously, in America we do not have a king. But, we have a president and we have a

governmental system that has three branches nationally – and these three branches also form state

and local governments. We are to honor those who hold positions of authority.

As Christians, we must set the example for being respectful to those in office – whether

executive, judicial, or legislative.

 

The recent campaign at all levels and all parties was often filled with bitter rancor, distortions,

smears and lies. That must not be a part of Christian’s behavior. We must not lose our principles

when fighting for principle.

 

As believers, we can help set a better tone for the national discussion. We can hold to our

views without being unkind, without rancorous voices, without becoming filled with anger or hatred

toward those with opposing views.

 

Our ultimate goal as Christians is not to win an election, but to win people to Jesus. We will

only win those whom we clearly love, and for whom we show love.

 

Now that the campaigns are over, let the real campaign begin. Let’s win America for Jesus!

Let’s pray that the Lord will send to America a Great Spiritual Awakening – that from sea to shining

sea, the glory of the Lord will break forth in the lives of our fellow citizens. May God bless America as

America blesses God!

Something to Think About

As we go to the polls this week here are a few quotes from our founding fathers about the role God, and His principles, should play in our government.

 

*Our first president, George Washington, took the oath of office and put his hand on what? (The Bible)

*What was his first official act as President? (Kissed the Bible, then held a 2 hr. praise/worship session in Congress)

*How did they determine to open sessions of Congress? (Prayer)

*Who would lead in those prayers? (Chaplains)

*How would they be paid? (Tax dollars)

Does all of that sound like they wanted to keep God out of government?

By the way, opening in prayer is a mystery to investigate…why is it that the little boys and girls cannot, but the big Congressmen can?

*In 1776, 11 of the 13 colonies required that one had to be a Christian to be eligible to run for political office.

*In 1777, the Continental Congress voted to spend $300,000 to purchase Bibles for distribution in the nation.

*The Gettysburg Address states “…this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom…”

*94% OF THE WRITINGS OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF THE U.S. CONTAINED QUOTATIONS FROM THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

*THE STATE CONSTITUTIONS OF ALL 50 STATES MENTION GOD.

*On that First “Thanksgiving”, who do you think the people were giving thanks to? To God!

*The famous “Liberty Bell” has part of Leviticus 25:10 inscribed on it: “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”

*Part of the Scripture Proverbs 14:34 is inscribed above the L.A. city hall door: “RIGHTEOUSNESS EXALTETH A NATION: BUT SIN IS A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE.”

*An image of Moses carrying the tablets of God’s Law faces the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

*The entering President takes his courtroom OATH OF OFFICE with his right hand on the Holy Bible, and concludes his vow “So help me God.”

*First Vice President and Second President, John Adams wrote in 1798:
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

* President Thomas Jefferson:
“I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.” – 1781

*Our sixth President, John Quincy Adams said:
“No book in the world deserves to be so unceasingly studied, and so profoundly meditated upon as the Bible.”

*At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin said,
“God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”

“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven… But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.” – 1863

*Theodore Roosevelt, America’s 26th President, wrote:
“In this actual world, a churchless community, a community where men have abandoned and scoffed at, or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid down-grade.” – 1917

*Woodrow Wilson, our 28th President and Governor of New Jersey, said this:
“America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of the Holy Scripture.” – 1911

*Calvin Coolidge, our 30th President, said this about our founding fathers:
“They were intent upon establishing a Christian commonwealth in accordance with the principle of self- government. They were an inspired body of men. It has been said that God sifted the nations that He might send choice grain into the wilderness… Who can fail to see it in the hand of destiny? Who can doubt that it has been guided by a Divine Providence.” – 1923

*Harry Truman, our 33rd President, not known to be a committed believer, understood the spiritual heritage of this nation:
“If men and nations would but live by the precepts of the ancient prophets and the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, problems which now seem so difficult would soon disappear”

*Gerald Ford, our 38th President, quoted a 1955 speech by Dwight D. Eisenhower on December 5, 1974:
“Without God there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first – the most basic – expression of Americanism. Thus the founding fathers of America saw it, and thus with God’s help, it will continue to be.”

And so, as we look today at our civic responsibility, the question is not, should a Christian be involved in gov’t…the question is: Can you be the Christian you are commanded to be and not be involved?

 

From Romans 13:1-7

 

5 things every Christian must do for their government:

1. We must participate in paying for government

2. We need to pray for our government

1 Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

4. Participate in government

It is our Christian duty to get informed, and vote!