“And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”     Ecclesiastes 3:13

Our tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving is dated back to the Pilgrim’s observing a feast with the Indians upon the first successful harvest of their crops.

The Mayflower had set sail from England on September 16, 1620 to carry 102 people to the newly discovered land of opportunity, America.

There can be no doubt that this pilgrimage was the result of the Church of England’s desire to move back toward Roman Catholicism and it’s religious traditions.  A move that was enhanced under King Charles I (1625) and produced the ensuing waves of migrants to what would become known as the “land of the free.”

King James I (1601) had however authorized the greatest minds and scholars of his day to under take the translation of the Bible into the English language so as to eliminate the many false teachings and surmising of the established religions.  And though time and space will not permit a deeper discourse on this subject suffice it to say their efforts produced the greatest spiritual awakening ever to take place in human history.

With the publishing of the King James 1611 Bible the common people were no longer in subjection to the private interpretations and teachings of the priests or the self-proclaimed Vicar of Christ sitting on his throne in Rome.

Our Lord’s words recorded in the Gospel of John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” were now to be realized in a most powerful and life changing way.  And the bondage brought about through ignorance of the Scriptures foretold in:

Isaiah 5:12 “Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge” would no longer hold these people hostage to a false religion or man induced traditions.

The psalmist’s words, “And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.  I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed” were now the life verse of all who shared a deep love for God and a desire to live by His precepts.

This meant a firm rejection of the false doctrines of infant baptism, papal supremacy, calling a religious leader by the title Father and the necessity of consuming a wafer and wine to obtain eternal life.  Thus the persecution of these bible believers began to intensify to the point of their willingness to risk life and limb to reach America.

The Mayflower voyage was one of frequent storms and hardships lasting 66 days and never reaching its intended destination of Virginia.  However in November 1620 they made shore in Cape Cod and during the first winter lost half of their fellow travelers to the harsh conditions.  One year later they would harvest the spring’s plantings and stock their storehouses for the coming winter with the fruits of their labor.

Blessed and happy, they planned a celebration dinner and over 90 Indians joined them in the feast, however, they were careful to remember and acknowledge Him from whom all blessings flow.

Edward Winslow wrote of that day saying: “And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”

The feast of harvest and giving of thanks to God continued each year and as more and more people fled the religious oppression of Europe our nation began to grow and prosper.

It is during these years that our nation’s independence and the need for individual freedoms would become the fabric of our culture and the means for our continued existence.  A fabric woven of the biblical precepts of Christianity and a deep allegiance to almighty God and His laws of moral conduct.

Let us never forget the sacrifices others have made for the freedoms and blessings we now enjoy.  Let us honor them by maintaining their demonstrated desire to worship God unrestrained by religious or governmental interference and to honor Him with their substance.

We must as individuals continue to serve God and give thanks to Him for his goodness, grace and blessings.  We must continue to read, study and obey His word so that we will never again bear the shackles of tyranny and be brought into bondage by any other man, nation or religion.

God’s gifts are free to all who will receive them and his blessings are bestowed upon the just and the unjust for it is the goodness of God that leadeth thee to repentance.

May our hearts swell with the deepest gratitude as we sit at tables filled with food, in our comfortable houses, surrounded by those we love so dearly, in the greatest country on earth.  And may we not forget to bow our heads in prayer and thanksgiving to God.

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”   Hebrews 13:15

Moses was forced to confront the children of Rueben and Gad with the above question when they suggested staying on the east side of the Jordan River rather than taking possessions in the Promised Land.  It seems that their willingness to be content where they were, brought with it grave concern over their support of the nation as a whole.   A nation that would soon be engaged in life or death struggles for its very existence.

     In the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 1 verse 9 we read:

                           “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”

     It seems that human nature has not changed at all over the last few thousand years for even in this present time we see many like the children of Rueben and Gad.  People who wish to remain content where they are at while a battle for the future existence of our great nation rages.

     Cause for concern is justified when nearly three quarters of registered voters fail to leave the comfort of their homes to vote in the primary elections.   Their inaction thus allowing a minority of voters to choose for the majority whose names will appear on the election ballot.   A few limiting the choices of the many.

     In 1775 patriots knew a battle was coming and they began to make provision by storing up arms and ammunition in the city of Boston, Massachusetts.  General Gage of the British Army decided to counter these measures by sending out troops to confiscate the weapons and to take prisoner Samuel Adams and John Hancock.

     The patriots were vigilant in standing guard and tracking the British army’s movements.  They established a signaling system whereby lanterns were hung in the steeple of the North Church – “one if by land, two if by sea.”  Paul Revere and other riders stood ready to ride racing through the night warning of the approach of the British soldiers once the signal was given.

     The church bells ringing, drums beating, and guns firing in the darkness awakened the citizen’s militia and 50-70 men responded to stand in defense of Boston.  The Battle of Lexington Green would make its mark in history as the British fired upon the militia sounding “the shot heard round the world.”

     Today the alarms are sounding but it appears apathy is the response of the times.  Too many people are moved emotionally or even spiritually by the troublesome reports but fail to be stirred into action.

Recently a friend attended a Tea Party rally where the turn out was appallingly low.  During the event he noticed the “age gap” and how few young men and women were in attendance.  This same age gap is evident in bible believing churches today and the blame I believe lies squarely on the shoulders of the last two generations of parents and grandparents.

      When Dad and Mom won’t do what is right and necessary to maintain a good relationship with God what can be expected from their kids?  When church attendance is viewed as optional, when bible study is deemed unnecessary, and when prayerful communication with our Creator ceases, the end result is always tragic.

     Just how did a small minority of atheists succeed in defeating the will of the majority of God fearing Americans in getting the bible and prayer removed from our classrooms?   The answer is simple: the majority didn’t want to leave their “comfort zones” and fight for a just cause.

     Our nation needs people to stir themselves from apathy and inactivity to a disciplined resolve and commitment.
Maybe you have failed to be a good example to your children and grandchildren in the past but let us not hang our heads in failure and defeat but rather let us draw upon that inner strength and the “can do” spirit that made America great.  Let’s turn off the TV, skip the sporting events and start doing the things that really matter.

     Let’s make God, the bible, prayer and church attendance “the priority” in our lives and not let anything or anyone get in the way.  Let us lead by example!

     2 Chronicles 7:14 states:

                   “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and  seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

     Why not make today the start of a new life by seeking out a bible believing, bible teaching, and bible preaching church where you and your family can get right with God?

     Our nation needs you not only in the voting booth but every day living life the way God intended so the He might once again shed His grace upon our County.

“. . . Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?”
Numbers 32:6b

     The evidence of God’s influence in the lives of our nation’s founders is undeniable by anyone one who will take the time to study history.

Statements like this one from Patrick Henry in a letter written March 23, 1775:

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of
chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course
others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

     Or this one from John Jay:

“Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is
the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to
select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”

     However it is a quote from Thomas Jefferson that I wish to address in this article:

“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation
be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a
conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are a gift from
God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I
tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, and that His
justice cannot sleep forever.”

     Please note that Thomas Jefferson not only knew the source of our liberties but also the importance of keeping the God who gave them in the forefront of our hearts and minds.

     “And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis . . .?”

     The implied and obvious answer is no.  The bible states in Psalm 9:17 that:

“. . . The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”

     There was a very successful method employed by elitists (those who wish to take away our liberties and bring us under their complete control) to push God out of our thoughts and to turn our nation into a secular society (a society that rejects the notion of a supreme God to whom we owe any allegiance or have any accountability).

     This strategy was implemented with the Scope’s Monkey trial and the introduction of an alternate view of how life began being presented to our school children.  It was a deliberate and calculated move to plant doubt in the minds of our children as to the existence of a Divine Creator and the effect on our society has been devastating.  Many of our children behave more like animals than people today but isn’t that what they are being taught?

Follow this by the removal of the Bible from the classroom, prayers in school, and the constant attempts to remove anything Christian or Bible related from the public sector and you produce a nation that not only has forgotten God but is antagonistic toward God.

The elitist’s efforts have been so successful that the majority of Americans today are illiterate when it comes to even the most basic bible doctrines.  Churches that teach and preach the Bible as the actual preserved words of an Almighty God to his creation are struggling to keep the doors open due to lack of attendance while those in the “entertainment business” seem to thrive.

People have forgotten God and forsaken God’s way and then wonder why things are so bad in our Country.  They question the millions of babies murdered through abortion, they stand dumbfounded by the acceptance of sexual perversion, they complain of governmental corruption, the lies, the deceit, and the crimes against humanity that grow more heinous each year.

The prophet Jeremiah told the nation of Israel as they were being taken captive and losing their liberty:

           “Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken

the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?”    Jeremiah 2:17

     Americans must begin to seek unto God but not in their own ways and manner for God is very particular in his word and detailed in his instructions as to how he expects to be worshipped.   Too many people today want a God of their own design and a worship service that is more entertainment than spiritually motivating.  Their attitude is displayed in their actions and words as they profess, “God will have to accept me the way I am.”   Well, the truth is God does not have to accept you at all.  He owes you nothing but you owe him everything.

Fathers and husbands must once again take the leadership of their homes and be accountable to God for their family’s spiritual well being.  Men have been too long distracted by sports and other pastimes meant to keep them occupied while the walls restricting their liberties are being constructed.

The Roman emperors kept the people entertained in the coliseums while their corrupted policies caused the fall of Rome.  So the American people forsake the house of God on Sunday to pursue their own forms of entertainment, they neglect to attend Wednesday night prayer meetings to watch their favorite TV program, the bible (if they own one) collects dust in the corner of a bookshelf.  And as their nation is being destroyed and their God given liberties snatched away they are oblivious and incredulous.

King David wrote in Psalm 12:

“Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from
among the children of men. They speak vanity every one with his
neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.”

     Our forefathers sacrificed to birth this great nation and now it is our time.  We must shake off the complacency and apathy that hold us like shackles.  We must find the desire and discipline to make the changes necessary in our personal lives that will affect the heart of Almighty God and move him to bless our nation once again.  We must get back into a Christ honoring Church that teaches the word of God.  We must have pastors who preach messages that have meaning and bring conviction to our hearts and churches that sing songs that give the glory unto God and not man.

     My friends it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that this nation so desperately needs followed by a desire to love and to serve God.

You can help make a difference today.  The question is, will you?