Happy Birthday, America!

 I've very proud of the fact (and somewhat saddened at the same time) that I'm one of the few people my age that still will stand at a parade with my hand over my heart when the American Flag passes by.  Also, I'm one of the few who still instructs their children on why we do this.  Something else....coming from a military family, I still get chills up and down my body during the National Anthem and sometimes....I cry.  I wanted to serve our country in the Armed Forces but due to injuries in my knees and back, I was not able to.  Instead, i serve our country by serving its people...as a Pastor.  Take a moment and listen to this:



How many of us stop at Patriotic Functions and think about where our true freedom comes from?....who it is that allows us to live how we live?  Yes, it is largely in part due to the acts of our brave men and women in uniform.  However, there is one man who wore no uniform, had no protective armor and still willingly walked into death's lare on our behalf...to bring us eternal freedom.  This coming Monday, we'll say "Happy Independence Day!"  Yes, it's a time to remember what happened here 235 years ago.  But, it should also be a time to remember what happened somewhere else almost 2,000 years ago.  In closing, let me ask you this...which is your statue of liberty?  The lady in New York Harbor?...or the Cross On Golgotha?

Yes, indeed, the Cross Is My Statue Of Liberty!!!  
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

Fathers

As you probably already know, music is a big part of my life.  Okay, it's a HUGE part of my life.  When I think of holidays, I can't help but think of a piece of music that accompanies it.  Where else does my mind go on Father's Day but to the hymn "God of our Fathers."  It's an OLD song but it is also one of the few old songs that, at least for me, are timeless!

God of our fathers Whose almighty hand

Leads forth in beauty All the starry band

Of shining worlds In splendor through the skies

Our grateful songs Before Thy throne arise

Thy love divine Hath led us in the past

In this free land By Thee our lot is cast

Be Thou our Ruler Guardian Guide and Stay

Thy Word our law Thy paths our chosen way

From war's alarms From deadly pestilence

Be Thy strong arm Our ever sure defense

Thy true religion In our hearts increase

Thy bounteous goodness Nourish us in peace

Refresh Thy people On their toilsome way

Lead us from night To never-ending day

Fill all our lives With love and grace divine

And glory laud And praise be ever Thine

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY....To My Abba!

Glorious Day

Currently, my favorite song is "Glorious Day" by Casting Crowns.  Shh....don't tell Third Day!

We've been singing this song in our evening services at church but until this past Sunday, I had been singing it wrong.  In the third verse, there's a line that I've been singing as "The hand that healed nations stretched out on a tree...and took the nails for me."

Well, Jesus may have done that but that's not how the song was written.  Here's the corrected words:
"The hand that healed nations stretched out on a tree...and took the nails FROM me."

You see, due to our sin, the nail was already on our hand and the executioner was mere seconds from striking it with his hammer.  BUT...don't you love it when there's a "but" after a line like that?...Jesus comes along, says "No...NO!"  He reaches down, helps you up off of your cross of condemnation and then He gets on it and says 'Those nails belong to me.'" 

WOW!

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in union with the Messiah Jesus.

-Romans 8:1