YouTube - Glenn Beck's 'Restoring Honor' Rally pt.2
This is part 2 of the restoring honor rally. Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is introduced at the end of this clip. She'll give her speech in the third part and part of the fourth. Col. John Carney who was in the Air force speaks as well. He is president of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The Restoring Honor Rally at Washington D.C. (Part 1)
YouTube - Glenn Beck's 8 28 Restoring Honor Rally Part 1 CSPAN at Lincoln Memorial Washington D.C
This is the introduction to the Restoring Honor Rally in Washington, D.C. Glenn Beck makes his opening comments in the rally. I will post a different clip of the rally each day until I've posted the entire rally. I've already posted the speech given by Dr. Alveda King and I've already posted part 10 last Monday when I wrote a post covering the "Restoring Honor" rally.
This is the introduction to the Restoring Honor Rally in Washington, D.C. Glenn Beck makes his opening comments in the rally. I will post a different clip of the rally each day until I've posted the entire rally. I've already posted the speech given by Dr. Alveda King and I've already posted part 10 last Monday when I wrote a post covering the "Restoring Honor" rally.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The Restoring Honor Rally in Washington, D.C.--Dr. Alveda King
YouTube - Restoring Honor Rally- Dr. Alveda King
I'm going to be posting some you tube clips of the Restoring Honor Rally that was held at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. I will be featuring different speakers who spoke at the rally. The speaker of this particular YouTube clip was Dr. Alveda King, the niece of the slain civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She was the daughter of the late A.D. King. She gave a good speech at the rally. I hope you find it interesting.
I'm going to be posting some you tube clips of the Restoring Honor Rally that was held at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. I will be featuring different speakers who spoke at the rally. The speaker of this particular YouTube clip was Dr. Alveda King, the niece of the slain civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She was the daughter of the late A.D. King. She gave a good speech at the rally. I hope you find it interesting.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Striving For Excellence in Your Vocation
There have been several people over the years that's taken a tour through the United States. There have been those that have traveled to every state in the country for various reasons. I've had the privilege of seeing a few states such as Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, the tip of Georgia, Colorado, Indiana, Missouri, and Kansas to name a few. Some of those states I've been to I was passing through on a destination to another state. The states that I visited were very beautiful. Anyone who's traveled around this country will have to admit this is a beatiful country. When you take a view of all the buildings, roads, bridges, dams, and the list continues, you will have to admit there was enormous amounts of labor involved in the building of the cities within the states. All the monuments and all the historic relics I see is a testament to all the labor that man has placed into building this country. It's taken hours upon hours every single day to build the country we have today. When the first settlers came to Jamestown, Virginia in 1607, there was nothing but Native American Indians and uninhabited land. The United States as we know it today didn't possess all the luxuries and the nice edifices like we see today. Someday had dreamed up all the buildings, roads, and bridges, etc. They just didn't appear out of nowhere. Then those same people who came up with the idea to build these cities had to have a plan to implement to make it happen. Once that took place, then workers were hired to build these cities. It took years upon years of labor throughout the 403 years that settlers have inhabited the United States starting with Jamestown. It took a lot of labor to provide all the nice things we as Americans enjoy in the present generation. All this just didn't magically appear. It requires work to construct things. Anybody that works a public job knows that you have to use the members of your body if you have any intention of producing a product.
I want to quickly wish everybody a happy Labor Day today. Many people are having barbecues, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying the nice weather in various parts of our country. While we're enjoying this day in recognition of all those who labored throughout the years in America, we need to stop and remember that anything we desire to have we must labor for it. It's a fact of life that we must work. Nothing will ever be accomplished apart from labor. God could if he so desired speak a word and anything we desire to possess could appear before us instantly. God could speak and a completed edifice could appear if he so choose. God could instantaneously make goods appear without our having to labor with our hands. However, God chose for man to labor to provide for his own living. Man that will work will learn to appreciate the goodness of God and the good things in life. People that are just handed things without any requirement to work for them tend to not be appreciative of all the labor that was made at someone else's expense. God has chosen for man to labor. We can share in the rewards when we've contributed our part in a day's time. I want to look at the importance of "Striving for Excellence in Your Vocation."
Ephesians 4:1 says that we are to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we've been called. God's given everybody various gifts. Everybody possess abilities to construct things with their hands. Everybody is gifted differently. Everybody doesn't possess the same talent and God had an intention for that. Ephesians 12:6 mentions that we are then given gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us. Ephesians 4:16 mentions about the body being fitly joined together. God gives everybody different gifts so the whole body can be fitly joined together for his purpose. That's why there are different gifts in the body. Everyone can't teach Sunday School. Everyone can't sing. Everyone can't preach in the pulpit. In a local assembly, you have need for someone to operate the sound booth so the microphones will work properly, for example. There's a need for somebody to know how to clean the building. Everybody can't perform the same chores. There has to be a division of labor. Everybody needs to find a task that fits them individually and perform it with all their might. The same principle applies to the work force. Everybody can't be teachers. Everybody can't be lawyers or businessmen. There are diverse needs in the labor force just as there are diverse needs in the body of Christ. In the labor force there are people that are needed to fill the role of police officers, nurses, electricians, construction, architecture, the local grocery store, and the list continues. That's why everybody doesn't possess the same interest nor same talent. God designed it that way so the needs of the work force will be met. Our society would be in chaos if you there weren't any nurses, firefighters, construction workers, and the list continues. There's a need for all types of occupations. The Lord gifts people in various ways to fulfill the needs of the labor force. We have a responsibility to find out what our gifts are and set out to train ourselves to use that gift in the labor force.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 says "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." First of all we need to know where our talents lie. Once we do that we need to determine if there's an occupation that would best fit us when it comes to using our talents. Whatever occupation we choose to spend the rest of our life performing, we need to first of all find out what are the requirements in pursuing that particular vocation. Will we need to attend college? Will we need to attend vocational school? Will extensive education beyond a bachelor's or master's degree be required? Those are important questions that we need to find out when we're pursuing a particular vocation that fits our talents. Whatever training we need to eventually land the job of our choice, we need to be diligent in our training so we will be adequately prepared to land the job we're seeking. Employers are looking for employees that are capable of performing the tasks that they need in a particular business. You don't want to be slothful in your education. Once you've finished your education, then you need to go job searching. I'm not going to spend the time explaining how one should groom themselves when going for a job interview. However, it's serious that we diligently prepare ourselves for an upcoming interview.
Once we land the job, we need to set out to work vigorously in our vocation. We should be very diligent in our daily chores at work. Our work is a testimony. Our work says a lot about us as an individual and even as a Christian. Slothfulness is inexcusable. We should perform the job to the best of our ability. We should strive to perform our duties accurately everyday on the job. We are paid to fulfill certain needs on the job. We should be productive each and every single day. We shouldn't settle for mediocrity. I heard a person say once that they believe mediocrity is a sin. I believe he's right because the God we serve isn't an average God. When God created the world, he didn't create a world that was average. He created a perfect world. The same with man. God created a perfect man. He didn't create man that had cancer nor lung disease. The reason why our world and mankind are in the shape they're in is because of sin. God didn't originally create us the way we are now. We are sinful because we're born in sin which can be traced back to the fruit Adam and Eve partook of in the Garden of Eden. God didn't create man in sin. God's not the author of mediocrity. If God isn't the author of mediocrity, then it's evident from that as well as the scriptures I just mentioned that God doesn't approve of mediocrity. Ecclesiastes says that whatsoever our hand findeth to do, we're to do it with all our might. There's no room for mediocrity in that verse. Romans 12:11 says we aren't to be slothful in business. We're to be fervent in Spirit. When we come to work everyday, our attitude about our occupation should be completely opposite from the world. We live in a lazy society. Many people on the job today possess the attitude they don't want to perform anymore than what's required. The truth of the matter is they try to perform less than what's required. That's not the way we should be about our vocation. We should strive everyday for excellence. We should strive to improve our skills so we can become a better asset on our jobs. I guarantee you that if you will strive for excellence everyday, there's a great possibility you could be promoted to a higher position. That's happened on a number of occasions with people. I've known of people who poured themselves into their occupation and as a result, they were promoted to a higher position. We should never be content with just being average on the job. We should strive to improve our skills all the time. There are some occupations such as the teaching profession which offer training development to the teachers during the summers when school is out. They hold teaching seminars to supposedly better enable the teachers to educate their students. Any vocation that has training development it's worth taking. Anything that would enable us to become a better asset on the job is worth it. It will pay dividends if we are perfect and whole on the job we perform. The mindset of many workers in today's work force is mind boggling. We'll never become what God desires for us to be unless we put our hand to the task and perform our vocation with all our might.
I recognize there are some jobs that Americans perform that they absolutely hate. I know there are some jobs people have to take because of the economic condition in certain parts of our country. I understand that. I've personally worked jobs that I didn't enjoy or maybe I should say would've not preferred, but I made up mind that I was going to like it what I was performing it. Much of the time how well we like our job can be dependant upon our attitude toward the job. We have a responsibility to make a living to pay our bills. Sometimes we don't have much of a choice in the matter. Regardless whether or not we're in a vocation that doesn't match our skill set, we're still to maintain a good attitude and perform the job with all our might. We have to labor to provide a living. Sometimes that requires taking jobs that we don't prefer. We have to make up our minds we're going to be productive and successful. That's the only choice we have.
It's a privilege to work. Even though we display the attitude that having to work is a curse, we would change our minds if we were to come across people who are physically disabled and would like to work. We are blessed to be able to work. Some people don't have that luxury due to physical disabilities. We should take the time this day to reflect upon the importance of labor. We enjoy many of the gadgets and conveniences we have today simply because there were people willing to work to produce those nice things we enjoy today. They weren't invented out of thin air. Somebody had to be the dreamer, somebody had to be the designer, somebody had to implement the plan, then somebody had to be willing to labor to produce that product. All the goods we have in our households are representative of the labor of millions of people around the world. Anything that we possess somebody had to be willing to produce it. We all play a role in society. We should diligently contribute our labors to our vocation . We should be strive for excellence in everything we do.
I want to quickly wish everybody a happy Labor Day today. Many people are having barbecues, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying the nice weather in various parts of our country. While we're enjoying this day in recognition of all those who labored throughout the years in America, we need to stop and remember that anything we desire to have we must labor for it. It's a fact of life that we must work. Nothing will ever be accomplished apart from labor. God could if he so desired speak a word and anything we desire to possess could appear before us instantly. God could speak and a completed edifice could appear if he so choose. God could instantaneously make goods appear without our having to labor with our hands. However, God chose for man to labor to provide for his own living. Man that will work will learn to appreciate the goodness of God and the good things in life. People that are just handed things without any requirement to work for them tend to not be appreciative of all the labor that was made at someone else's expense. God has chosen for man to labor. We can share in the rewards when we've contributed our part in a day's time. I want to look at the importance of "Striving for Excellence in Your Vocation."
Ephesians 4:1 says that we are to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we've been called. God's given everybody various gifts. Everybody possess abilities to construct things with their hands. Everybody is gifted differently. Everybody doesn't possess the same talent and God had an intention for that. Ephesians 12:6 mentions that we are then given gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us. Ephesians 4:16 mentions about the body being fitly joined together. God gives everybody different gifts so the whole body can be fitly joined together for his purpose. That's why there are different gifts in the body. Everyone can't teach Sunday School. Everyone can't sing. Everyone can't preach in the pulpit. In a local assembly, you have need for someone to operate the sound booth so the microphones will work properly, for example. There's a need for somebody to know how to clean the building. Everybody can't perform the same chores. There has to be a division of labor. Everybody needs to find a task that fits them individually and perform it with all their might. The same principle applies to the work force. Everybody can't be teachers. Everybody can't be lawyers or businessmen. There are diverse needs in the labor force just as there are diverse needs in the body of Christ. In the labor force there are people that are needed to fill the role of police officers, nurses, electricians, construction, architecture, the local grocery store, and the list continues. That's why everybody doesn't possess the same interest nor same talent. God designed it that way so the needs of the work force will be met. Our society would be in chaos if you there weren't any nurses, firefighters, construction workers, and the list continues. There's a need for all types of occupations. The Lord gifts people in various ways to fulfill the needs of the labor force. We have a responsibility to find out what our gifts are and set out to train ourselves to use that gift in the labor force.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 says "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." First of all we need to know where our talents lie. Once we do that we need to determine if there's an occupation that would best fit us when it comes to using our talents. Whatever occupation we choose to spend the rest of our life performing, we need to first of all find out what are the requirements in pursuing that particular vocation. Will we need to attend college? Will we need to attend vocational school? Will extensive education beyond a bachelor's or master's degree be required? Those are important questions that we need to find out when we're pursuing a particular vocation that fits our talents. Whatever training we need to eventually land the job of our choice, we need to be diligent in our training so we will be adequately prepared to land the job we're seeking. Employers are looking for employees that are capable of performing the tasks that they need in a particular business. You don't want to be slothful in your education. Once you've finished your education, then you need to go job searching. I'm not going to spend the time explaining how one should groom themselves when going for a job interview. However, it's serious that we diligently prepare ourselves for an upcoming interview.
Once we land the job, we need to set out to work vigorously in our vocation. We should be very diligent in our daily chores at work. Our work is a testimony. Our work says a lot about us as an individual and even as a Christian. Slothfulness is inexcusable. We should perform the job to the best of our ability. We should strive to perform our duties accurately everyday on the job. We are paid to fulfill certain needs on the job. We should be productive each and every single day. We shouldn't settle for mediocrity. I heard a person say once that they believe mediocrity is a sin. I believe he's right because the God we serve isn't an average God. When God created the world, he didn't create a world that was average. He created a perfect world. The same with man. God created a perfect man. He didn't create man that had cancer nor lung disease. The reason why our world and mankind are in the shape they're in is because of sin. God didn't originally create us the way we are now. We are sinful because we're born in sin which can be traced back to the fruit Adam and Eve partook of in the Garden of Eden. God didn't create man in sin. God's not the author of mediocrity. If God isn't the author of mediocrity, then it's evident from that as well as the scriptures I just mentioned that God doesn't approve of mediocrity. Ecclesiastes says that whatsoever our hand findeth to do, we're to do it with all our might. There's no room for mediocrity in that verse. Romans 12:11 says we aren't to be slothful in business. We're to be fervent in Spirit. When we come to work everyday, our attitude about our occupation should be completely opposite from the world. We live in a lazy society. Many people on the job today possess the attitude they don't want to perform anymore than what's required. The truth of the matter is they try to perform less than what's required. That's not the way we should be about our vocation. We should strive everyday for excellence. We should strive to improve our skills so we can become a better asset on our jobs. I guarantee you that if you will strive for excellence everyday, there's a great possibility you could be promoted to a higher position. That's happened on a number of occasions with people. I've known of people who poured themselves into their occupation and as a result, they were promoted to a higher position. We should never be content with just being average on the job. We should strive to improve our skills all the time. There are some occupations such as the teaching profession which offer training development to the teachers during the summers when school is out. They hold teaching seminars to supposedly better enable the teachers to educate their students. Any vocation that has training development it's worth taking. Anything that would enable us to become a better asset on the job is worth it. It will pay dividends if we are perfect and whole on the job we perform. The mindset of many workers in today's work force is mind boggling. We'll never become what God desires for us to be unless we put our hand to the task and perform our vocation with all our might.
I recognize there are some jobs that Americans perform that they absolutely hate. I know there are some jobs people have to take because of the economic condition in certain parts of our country. I understand that. I've personally worked jobs that I didn't enjoy or maybe I should say would've not preferred, but I made up mind that I was going to like it what I was performing it. Much of the time how well we like our job can be dependant upon our attitude toward the job. We have a responsibility to make a living to pay our bills. Sometimes we don't have much of a choice in the matter. Regardless whether or not we're in a vocation that doesn't match our skill set, we're still to maintain a good attitude and perform the job with all our might. We have to labor to provide a living. Sometimes that requires taking jobs that we don't prefer. We have to make up our minds we're going to be productive and successful. That's the only choice we have.
It's a privilege to work. Even though we display the attitude that having to work is a curse, we would change our minds if we were to come across people who are physically disabled and would like to work. We are blessed to be able to work. Some people don't have that luxury due to physical disabilities. We should take the time this day to reflect upon the importance of labor. We enjoy many of the gadgets and conveniences we have today simply because there were people willing to work to produce those nice things we enjoy today. They weren't invented out of thin air. Somebody had to be the dreamer, somebody had to be the designer, somebody had to implement the plan, then somebody had to be willing to labor to produce that product. All the goods we have in our households are representative of the labor of millions of people around the world. Anything that we possess somebody had to be willing to produce it. We all play a role in society. We should diligently contribute our labors to our vocation . We should be strive for excellence in everything we do.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
The Christian's Testimony Before the World
Philippians 1:12-14 "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the futherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." One of the most important things that a saved person has is his/her testimony. I've heard of a song years ago entitled, "You're the only Bible that some people read." Our testimony is something that we should guard and protect. Mark 16:15 tells us that we are to go out into all the world to preach the gospel. That is the Great Commission God has given saved people. In order for a saved person to be an effective witness to the lost, it's imperative that Christians walk exemplary lives before the world. We're to watch how we present ourselves before those who don't know the Lord. We live in a society today where you can't hardly distinguish between those who attend church and those who don't attend church. That causes much confusion to the world. Part of the reason why this world is so deceived when it comes to the gospel is because of the shoddy testimonies of those who name the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christians can't live shoddy lives before the world and expect the world to accept our Lord for their own lives. There have been statements made numerous times by those who don't know the Lord that "if that's what Christianity is about, I don't want any part of it." They have a right humanly speaking to think that way. There are many people who claim to be saved that quarrel and gossip over particular individuals. They say things that are very uncouth and damaging. There are church people who devote their time doing nothing but sowing discord.
When you read verse 12 in Philippians chapter 1 you read where the Apostle Paul mentioned that the things that happened to him were for the futherance of the gospel. Anybody that reads the New Testament will have to concur there was no greater testimony and voice of the gospel than the Apostle Paul. He at one time was a religious Jew who was a blasphemer and persecuted those that lived for Christ. Then one day while walking down Damascus Road the Lord gloriously saved him. He then became a proclaimer of the gospel and dedicated his life for the cause of Christ. He was persecuted unmercifully. He was jailed and beaten for his faith. He was truly persecuted. He wasn't persecuted because he was full of guile or he did or said something that was unnecessarily offensive. His life revolved around the Lord. His conversation was as it becometh the gospel of Christ. I'm going to make a quick point about being offensive. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is offensive. Jesus said in the Gospels that the world will hate you if you serve the Lord. The world is at enmity with the Christ that we as saved people serve. However, any statement that we make is offensive should be offensive only because that's what God's Word says. If the world is to be offended at us, they should be offended only at the message of the gospel; not because we gave them a legitimate reason to be offensive. If we claim to be saved and we use profanity out of every other breath, we're being offensive. If we claim to be a Christian and we cheat and lie at our place of employment, we're being offensive. That's the kind of offense God's not pleased with. Matthew 18:7 says, "Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" The gospel is offensive enough by its own merits. We're not to contribute to the offense. In other words, the messenger is to be perfectly blameless when he proclaims the Word. If the world is going to be offended, it should be because the world doesn't like what the Bible says. We're not to be offensive in our conduct, speech, and actions. We're to live blameless in our Christian lives. I do recognize being mortal, we do sin. However, when we sin before the world, we should apologize to them and tell them what we did was unchristlike and that's not how a Christian is to conduct themselves. We should be Christian enough to apologize when we're wrong. The world is examining us very closely.
This morning in Sunday School, the teacher was mentioning about an incident where he and another man from the church were out on visitation trying to witness to people. He said that there was a couple whose house they visited and they were nice enough to allow them into their homes to share with them the gospel. One of those men spent around 45 minutes or so mentioning the gospel in such a manner as to beat those over the head with it. The man of the house eventually told them to leave or he'll shoot them. To this day the man who was witnessing to that couple claims he was being persecuted. He wasn't being persecuted whatsoever. If you go out on visitation and come inside somebody's home, you don't beat them with the gospel. That won't work. You can't force a sinner to accept Jesus. If you are witnessing to someone about the gospel you mention to them what the Lord has done for you and that you would like for them to experience the goodness of God in their own lives. However, you can't convert them. It takes the Holy Spirit to draw them (John 6:44). We are to preach the gospel to the world. We can't force them to be saved. If God can't persuade them their need of salvation when a Christian presents them with the gospel, then nobody can. God says Christians are to evangelize the world. Christians can't save people. Only God can do that. If they're not interested in hearing the gospel, then there's nothing you can do but pray. Forcing the gospel upon them will drive them further away from God. You have to reach them when there's an opportunity for a teachable moment. Otherwise, you won't proceed very far.
Anytime Christians come in contact with sinners, they need to understand that the sinner is more interested in their actions and conduct than they are what they have to say. The world will pay attention to us when we aren't moving our lips. They want to know do we actually believe what we say or is it just artificial. There's much artificial Christianity in this hour. That's why the world isn't interested in our Christianity. Much of it is counterfeit. The world needs to know that we care about them as an individual. I've heard said they're not so much interested in how much you know as to how much you care. We can quote every verse in the Bible, write a theological exposition on numerous passages of scripture, and we can know the Bible from cover to cover. That doesn't impress the world. There are numerous church people that can quote scripture but their testimony is a joke. How we live, walk, talk, handle stressful situations, etc. says more about who we are than any theological jargon that comes out of our mouths. Talk is cheap. Anybody who studies the Bible can present an exposition on a passage of scripture. However, does our lives indicate we have a relationship with God? Does our lives indicate to the world that we believe what we preach? If we can lose our temper over something so insignificant, for example, how can we expect the world to have any confidence in us? If we allow profanity to come from our mouths, how can we expect the world to have any confidence in us? If we are on the job site and we're loafing and not working an honest day's work, what does that say to those we work with? What does it say those who are over us in a position of authority? Do you think they're interested in hearing about our God if we won't use our bodies to accomplish the daily tasks that's needed? I doubt it. Our actions speak far louder than our words. Before we proceed to tell the world that they need the Lord, we need to take a look at ourselves and ask the question: Does the world see Jesus in me? Does the world see anything different in me that they're missing? What does the world think about me in regards to my testimony? Do they think I'm for real or do they think I'm just counterfeit? Those are questions that we should contemplate. It's imperative that the world sees by our actions that the God we claim to know is real. The world won't know that unless they see us living like Jesus.
We need to stop and remember that the world is blind. They don't know better. Many times we are so upset with the filth that comes from the world. We're so upset with what we see from those that we work with. It's upsetting some of the junk I hear from our elected representatives in Washington, D.C. It would help us if we would recognize that "the world doesn't know better". If we will just recognize that the world doesn't know better, it would change our actions and change how we treat those around us. The world doesn't know better. They're blind and in sin. That's why it's imperative for Christians to portay a Christlike example. There's so much spiritual ignorance in this world today. Unless they see something that's different in us that they don't have, they're not going to accept what we have to offer. Why should they? Our actions have given them a reason to not believe what we have to say. If they can't see a life that's uniquely and distinctly different from the world, then why should they desire to become saved? If our attitude is always sour and we're always mean, grumpy, and are backbiting all the time, what are we telling the world? We're telling them that living for Jesus is no different than what the world's doing. That grieves God. We need some people in this hour that will dedicate themselves to the Lord. We need Christians who will take a stand for God and the life they're living not be an offense to the world. They need to see by our actions that there's no greater life than to live for Christ. Consequently, we can't expect the world to see that our Christ is worth living for if we're living contradictory to the Bible. Our testimony is serious. There are souls that are weighing in the balance. The life that we portray before the world could make a difference whether or not some become saved or some don't. If sinners choose to reject Christ, it shouldn't be because of our slothful testimony. We should live blameless before the world. If we do sin in front of the world, we should make it right and apologize for our non-christian attitude. That's part of being Christlike.
When you read verse 12 in Philippians chapter 1 you read where the Apostle Paul mentioned that the things that happened to him were for the futherance of the gospel. Anybody that reads the New Testament will have to concur there was no greater testimony and voice of the gospel than the Apostle Paul. He at one time was a religious Jew who was a blasphemer and persecuted those that lived for Christ. Then one day while walking down Damascus Road the Lord gloriously saved him. He then became a proclaimer of the gospel and dedicated his life for the cause of Christ. He was persecuted unmercifully. He was jailed and beaten for his faith. He was truly persecuted. He wasn't persecuted because he was full of guile or he did or said something that was unnecessarily offensive. His life revolved around the Lord. His conversation was as it becometh the gospel of Christ. I'm going to make a quick point about being offensive. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is offensive. Jesus said in the Gospels that the world will hate you if you serve the Lord. The world is at enmity with the Christ that we as saved people serve. However, any statement that we make is offensive should be offensive only because that's what God's Word says. If the world is to be offended at us, they should be offended only at the message of the gospel; not because we gave them a legitimate reason to be offensive. If we claim to be saved and we use profanity out of every other breath, we're being offensive. If we claim to be a Christian and we cheat and lie at our place of employment, we're being offensive. That's the kind of offense God's not pleased with. Matthew 18:7 says, "Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!" The gospel is offensive enough by its own merits. We're not to contribute to the offense. In other words, the messenger is to be perfectly blameless when he proclaims the Word. If the world is going to be offended, it should be because the world doesn't like what the Bible says. We're not to be offensive in our conduct, speech, and actions. We're to live blameless in our Christian lives. I do recognize being mortal, we do sin. However, when we sin before the world, we should apologize to them and tell them what we did was unchristlike and that's not how a Christian is to conduct themselves. We should be Christian enough to apologize when we're wrong. The world is examining us very closely.
This morning in Sunday School, the teacher was mentioning about an incident where he and another man from the church were out on visitation trying to witness to people. He said that there was a couple whose house they visited and they were nice enough to allow them into their homes to share with them the gospel. One of those men spent around 45 minutes or so mentioning the gospel in such a manner as to beat those over the head with it. The man of the house eventually told them to leave or he'll shoot them. To this day the man who was witnessing to that couple claims he was being persecuted. He wasn't being persecuted whatsoever. If you go out on visitation and come inside somebody's home, you don't beat them with the gospel. That won't work. You can't force a sinner to accept Jesus. If you are witnessing to someone about the gospel you mention to them what the Lord has done for you and that you would like for them to experience the goodness of God in their own lives. However, you can't convert them. It takes the Holy Spirit to draw them (John 6:44). We are to preach the gospel to the world. We can't force them to be saved. If God can't persuade them their need of salvation when a Christian presents them with the gospel, then nobody can. God says Christians are to evangelize the world. Christians can't save people. Only God can do that. If they're not interested in hearing the gospel, then there's nothing you can do but pray. Forcing the gospel upon them will drive them further away from God. You have to reach them when there's an opportunity for a teachable moment. Otherwise, you won't proceed very far.
Anytime Christians come in contact with sinners, they need to understand that the sinner is more interested in their actions and conduct than they are what they have to say. The world will pay attention to us when we aren't moving our lips. They want to know do we actually believe what we say or is it just artificial. There's much artificial Christianity in this hour. That's why the world isn't interested in our Christianity. Much of it is counterfeit. The world needs to know that we care about them as an individual. I've heard said they're not so much interested in how much you know as to how much you care. We can quote every verse in the Bible, write a theological exposition on numerous passages of scripture, and we can know the Bible from cover to cover. That doesn't impress the world. There are numerous church people that can quote scripture but their testimony is a joke. How we live, walk, talk, handle stressful situations, etc. says more about who we are than any theological jargon that comes out of our mouths. Talk is cheap. Anybody who studies the Bible can present an exposition on a passage of scripture. However, does our lives indicate we have a relationship with God? Does our lives indicate to the world that we believe what we preach? If we can lose our temper over something so insignificant, for example, how can we expect the world to have any confidence in us? If we allow profanity to come from our mouths, how can we expect the world to have any confidence in us? If we are on the job site and we're loafing and not working an honest day's work, what does that say to those we work with? What does it say those who are over us in a position of authority? Do you think they're interested in hearing about our God if we won't use our bodies to accomplish the daily tasks that's needed? I doubt it. Our actions speak far louder than our words. Before we proceed to tell the world that they need the Lord, we need to take a look at ourselves and ask the question: Does the world see Jesus in me? Does the world see anything different in me that they're missing? What does the world think about me in regards to my testimony? Do they think I'm for real or do they think I'm just counterfeit? Those are questions that we should contemplate. It's imperative that the world sees by our actions that the God we claim to know is real. The world won't know that unless they see us living like Jesus.
We need to stop and remember that the world is blind. They don't know better. Many times we are so upset with the filth that comes from the world. We're so upset with what we see from those that we work with. It's upsetting some of the junk I hear from our elected representatives in Washington, D.C. It would help us if we would recognize that "the world doesn't know better". If we will just recognize that the world doesn't know better, it would change our actions and change how we treat those around us. The world doesn't know better. They're blind and in sin. That's why it's imperative for Christians to portay a Christlike example. There's so much spiritual ignorance in this world today. Unless they see something that's different in us that they don't have, they're not going to accept what we have to offer. Why should they? Our actions have given them a reason to not believe what we have to say. If they can't see a life that's uniquely and distinctly different from the world, then why should they desire to become saved? If our attitude is always sour and we're always mean, grumpy, and are backbiting all the time, what are we telling the world? We're telling them that living for Jesus is no different than what the world's doing. That grieves God. We need some people in this hour that will dedicate themselves to the Lord. We need Christians who will take a stand for God and the life they're living not be an offense to the world. They need to see by our actions that there's no greater life than to live for Christ. Consequently, we can't expect the world to see that our Christ is worth living for if we're living contradictory to the Bible. Our testimony is serious. There are souls that are weighing in the balance. The life that we portray before the world could make a difference whether or not some become saved or some don't. If sinners choose to reject Christ, it shouldn't be because of our slothful testimony. We should live blameless before the world. If we do sin in front of the world, we should make it right and apologize for our non-christian attitude. That's part of being Christlike.
The Church at Thyatira
(Revelation 2:18-29) "And unto the angel of the church in thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and they works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the church shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches." Thyatira was a very wealthy city. It served as the main business/commercial route between Pergamos and Sardis. It was located in the northern part of Lydia on the river Lycus. Thyatira was perhaps most noted because it was an important trade and manufacturing city. The city was known for its purple dye and dyed garments. Lydia, whom was converted under Paul at Philippi, was from Thyatira and a seller of purple. (Acts 16:13-15). In their pagan worship, they worshipped their chief deity Tyrimnos, also known as the Greek sun god Apollo.
First of all, it should be noted in this letter, God commends Thyatira for several things, which was more than any of the three previous churches. It was the first church of the seven to be noted for its love. The primary problem of that church, according to the Lord was "toleratng the woman Jezebel". Who was Jezebel? In I Kings, Jezebel was the most wicked, devious woman in the Bible. She was the wife of King Ahab. Jezebel desired for Israel to worship Baal. She brought Baalism into Israel. She is accused by God of being a false prophetess. She taught two things. (1) She seduced God's people to commit fornications, acts of immorality, which is idolatry. (2) Eating things sacrificed to idols. A picture of the union of God's people with the world and Satan. God said he had "given her space to repent, but she has no desire to repent of her immorality."
This particular church age under Thyatira is called the pagan church or the corrupt church. History refers to this period of time as "The Dark Ages." The Thyatira church ages begins where the Pergamos church age ends and continues "marrying" into the world. Although there had always been "heads" in the Church throughout, and during the time between 312 A.D. and 606 A.D. full blown "heads" and Church hierarchy continued to emerge. In 607 A.D. trouble over the title of "Universal Bishop" assumed by the patriarch of Constantinople, John the Faster, flared up again, for John's successor, Cyriacus, also insisted on using this title. Boniface III thereupon secured from Emperor Phocas a decree acknowledging that "the Sea of Blessed Peter the Apostle should be the head of all the Churches" and that the title of "Universal Bishop" should be reserved exclusively for the bishop of Rome. This was nothing new. Long ago the great lawgiver, Justinian, had legally recognized the primacy of the Roman pontiff. But at this time the repetition was considered necessary to curb the titular pretensions of the Patriarch. Therefore Boniface III, in 607 A.D. is recognized at the first "official" Universal Bishop, or Pope.
The Roman Catholic Church continued throughout this time period to grow in numbers, power, and influence. Tragically, it also continued to allow in many damaging false doctrines and practices and drifting away from scriptures as their sole source of truth and relying more heavily on "traditions" being their sole source of truth. Examples of these traditions are: the worship of images and religious relics, use of "Holy Water" and prayer beeds, dead saints being canonized by the church, celibacy of a priesthood as a requirement, the doctrine of purgatory, the sale of "indulgences" to get people out of purgaotry, the Inquisition, transubstantiation....meaning the belief that the bread and wine taken in Comunion truly became the actual body and blood of our Lord Jesus. Also, the Bible was being forbidden to the "laity" or people, the "Seven Sacraments" became required for salvation. Church tradition was being made equal to the Word of God, and the Apocryphal books were added to the Bible as the cannon.
You can see over time as the church age progressed that Satan used different forces to pervert the Word of God and rely on the teachings of man instead of solely relying on scripture as the basis upon which to live. This letter to Thyatira says not to tolerate or be led astray by false doctrines which are contradictory to God's Word. We must base our doctrine solely upon the Word of God. That's why it's crucial we be grounded in the Word. (II Timothy 3:16, 17) We must know the truths found in the pages of God's word. If we are sound in our doctrine, we won't be led astray by all these false doctrines being thrown at us. At this very hour the world is being deceived by false doctrines and false teachers. It's tragic. We've had men that once mouted the pulpits to preach God's word that now have compromised and become heretics. The church is in the mess she's in today because she's strayed from God's word and instead has incorporated the teachings of man as its doctrine. We must come back to heeding the word of God. We must follow and practice God's word . Otherwise we'll be deceived.
First of all, it should be noted in this letter, God commends Thyatira for several things, which was more than any of the three previous churches. It was the first church of the seven to be noted for its love. The primary problem of that church, according to the Lord was "toleratng the woman Jezebel". Who was Jezebel? In I Kings, Jezebel was the most wicked, devious woman in the Bible. She was the wife of King Ahab. Jezebel desired for Israel to worship Baal. She brought Baalism into Israel. She is accused by God of being a false prophetess. She taught two things. (1) She seduced God's people to commit fornications, acts of immorality, which is idolatry. (2) Eating things sacrificed to idols. A picture of the union of God's people with the world and Satan. God said he had "given her space to repent, but she has no desire to repent of her immorality."
This particular church age under Thyatira is called the pagan church or the corrupt church. History refers to this period of time as "The Dark Ages." The Thyatira church ages begins where the Pergamos church age ends and continues "marrying" into the world. Although there had always been "heads" in the Church throughout, and during the time between 312 A.D. and 606 A.D. full blown "heads" and Church hierarchy continued to emerge. In 607 A.D. trouble over the title of "Universal Bishop" assumed by the patriarch of Constantinople, John the Faster, flared up again, for John's successor, Cyriacus, also insisted on using this title. Boniface III thereupon secured from Emperor Phocas a decree acknowledging that "the Sea of Blessed Peter the Apostle should be the head of all the Churches" and that the title of "Universal Bishop" should be reserved exclusively for the bishop of Rome. This was nothing new. Long ago the great lawgiver, Justinian, had legally recognized the primacy of the Roman pontiff. But at this time the repetition was considered necessary to curb the titular pretensions of the Patriarch. Therefore Boniface III, in 607 A.D. is recognized at the first "official" Universal Bishop, or Pope.
The Roman Catholic Church continued throughout this time period to grow in numbers, power, and influence. Tragically, it also continued to allow in many damaging false doctrines and practices and drifting away from scriptures as their sole source of truth and relying more heavily on "traditions" being their sole source of truth. Examples of these traditions are: the worship of images and religious relics, use of "Holy Water" and prayer beeds, dead saints being canonized by the church, celibacy of a priesthood as a requirement, the doctrine of purgatory, the sale of "indulgences" to get people out of purgaotry, the Inquisition, transubstantiation....meaning the belief that the bread and wine taken in Comunion truly became the actual body and blood of our Lord Jesus. Also, the Bible was being forbidden to the "laity" or people, the "Seven Sacraments" became required for salvation. Church tradition was being made equal to the Word of God, and the Apocryphal books were added to the Bible as the cannon.
You can see over time as the church age progressed that Satan used different forces to pervert the Word of God and rely on the teachings of man instead of solely relying on scripture as the basis upon which to live. This letter to Thyatira says not to tolerate or be led astray by false doctrines which are contradictory to God's Word. We must base our doctrine solely upon the Word of God. That's why it's crucial we be grounded in the Word. (II Timothy 3:16, 17) We must know the truths found in the pages of God's word. If we are sound in our doctrine, we won't be led astray by all these false doctrines being thrown at us. At this very hour the world is being deceived by false doctrines and false teachers. It's tragic. We've had men that once mouted the pulpits to preach God's word that now have compromised and become heretics. The church is in the mess she's in today because she's strayed from God's word and instead has incorporated the teachings of man as its doctrine. We must come back to heeding the word of God. We must follow and practice God's word . Otherwise we'll be deceived.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Do Not be Unequally Yoked
II Corinthians 6:14-17) "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." Last Saturday Glenn Beck held a "Restoring Honor" rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. There were crowds that came from all parts of the country. There were speakers speaking at this rally. Two of the most famous speakers were Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck. The rally wasn't a political rally. Beck had told his listening audience to not bring signs to the rally. For the most part there wasn't any signs there. It was a rally invoking the name of God. It was supposedly a type of spiritual event. Beck was speaking of faith when he was speaking and said that America needs to turn to God. Beck had mentioned on his Fox News television program that he was going to bring in a "black-robed regiment" which would include all types of religious figures. There were a host of religious figures at the rally ranging from rabbis to priests to Evangelicals to Imams. With the rally being centered toward America needing God and the rally featuring all types of religious figures in a show of unity makes it an ecumenical rally. That is very disturbing. God warns in his word about being unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Most if not all those "black-robed regiments" weren't even genuinely saved. Why do I make such a statement? Because the religion of most of those religious figures don't teach that the only way a sinner can be saved is through the blood of Jesus Christ. Some of those religions such as the Catholics, the Mormons, and even the Imams don't even use a Bible. They have their own version. There's only one Word. That's God's Word that's preserved in the King James translation of 1611. Anyone religious figure that teaches out of another book other than the Holy Bible is a heretic. There's no truth found anywhere other than the King James 1611. It's not found in the Book of Mormon, the Koran, the Caholic Church teachings, or the teachings of the rabbi. There's only one message from God to man and that comes from the Bible. You don't need any other book. No other book or scripture is inspired by God.
As far as I'm concerned, Glenn Beck was sincere in the purpose of holding the "Restoring Honor" rally. My problem with religious leaders being allowed to come together in unity in this rally wasn't that I questioned Beck's sincerity. Probably most of those that took part in organizing the event were sincere. Sincerity is not the issue. One thing that bothers me was there were two Evangelicals in attendance at this rally that should've known better. They were Pastor John Hagee in San Antonio, Texas, and psychologist Dr. James Dobson. Hagee knows enough about the Bible to know God's people aren't to join up with religious leaders in the name of Christianity. The problem is it's an ecumenical event. What is ecumenism? Ecumenism is the movement where Evangelicals and religious leaders of opposing doctrinal views come together to join in a common cause dismissing theological issues. America has been a part of ecumenical efforts in the past. On March 29, 1994, a group of Evangelicals and Catholics got together in a show of unity for common causes. Chuck Colson headed up that movement. Also, during this time, Promise Keepers sprang up across America. It was a men's movement which reached across denominational barriers that joined men together in unity making a promise that they would pledge to be faithful to their wives. Now Glenn Beck has been trying to bring together religious figures from different denominations for a common cause. On yesterday's program, Beck had different religious leaders on his program such as Dave Roever and a Jewish rabbi, to name a couple. Beck for the last several months has been trying to emphasize America's need to come back to God. He's been trying to encourage Americans to concentrate on faith. Beck has played a role in bringing all these religious leaders together last Saturday. One thing I want to make abundantly clear: I'm not speaking of a political rally or some rally for a political cause. I recognize when a group of Americans assemble together in a political group such as the Tea Party for example, there will be numerous people represented who belong to a number of denominations. However, when you invoke the name of Jesus or spirituality in a particular rally, it takes on an entirely different nature. You're dealing with something totally different when spirituality is involved. When it's about Jesus, we as Christians aren't supposed to yoke up with unbelievers. Yet that's what you're seeing take place in Christendom. That's been happening for years. Years ago the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches was formed to promote ecumenism. Today many Evangelicals are hitching up with the Catholics and Mormons for some specific cause.
Most of those that are saved believe America is in desperate straits spiritually. We would agree that America needs an awakening and the church needs a revival. I don't believe there would be much dispute about that; especially those in fundamentalist circles. However, revival nor an awakening is going to come about with a group of religious leaders coming together setting aside theological differences. The Bible says that God's people must turn from their sin and have their relationship with God make right. II Chronicles 7:14 says that if God's people will turn their face toward Heaven and seek his face and repent of their sins, then God will heal their land. That's not going to happen with a group of religious leaders coming together. God doesn't bless the union of believers and non-believers. What fellowship hath light with darkness? Amos 3:3 says, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" How can preachers that call themselves preachers come together at a rally which supposedly is about America needing to come back to God yoke up with other religious leaders that don't believe the Bible? How can Christians yoke up with heretics for a "spiritual" cause? That's not possible. However, that's what's taking place all the time. America isn't going to come to God when the righteous hook up with the unrighteous. Proverbs 14:34 says that righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people. You won't have righteousness produced when light and darkness come together for a spiritual cause. Any righteousness that's represented will be snuffed out by the unrighteousness. Oil and water don't mix. Righteousness and unrighteousness don't mix. God will not honor nor bless Christians yoking up with unbelievers. It's sin when believers and unbelievers yoke up together.
America needs God desperately. There's no dispute about that. America needs to turn to God. However, an awakening won't come through religious rallies such as the "Restoring Honor" rally. God's people won't turn and repent of their sins by ecumenical rallies. II John vs. 10 states, "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:" We shouldn't allow those to come into our homes such as the Jehovah Witnesses to push their doctrine on us, for example. We're not to mess with them. If we're not to allow heretics such as the Jehovah Witnesses into our homes, then what business do Christians have in yoking up with unbelievers at a religious rally? None whatsoever. The ecumencial movement is not of God. God's will is for the spreading of the gospel unto the ends of the earth (Mark 16:15). The Bible says that the Word of God is to be preached in and out of season. God majors in preaching. God's preachers are to preach the unadulterated Word of God. If America is to experience an awakening, it won't be the result of some religious rally where religious figures come together in a show of unity. America will awakened when God's people recognize they need to draw closer unto God and they plead with God to send revival to the local churches. When God's people are revived then the church can be on fire with the power of God. A revived church will affect the surrounding community. Then that's when America will be awakened. It will be when God's people are living the kind of lives that convict the lost world around them. Living a Godly, consecrated life will do more to awaken our country than religious leaders who don't even preach out of a Bible gather together at a religious rally. God's not the author of ecumenism. God says His people are to be separated and distinctly different from the world. What kind of message are we sending when we join hands with those kind of people? We're saying that the heresy they're propagating isn't a huge deal. It is a huge deal! We lose our ability as Christians to be salt and light when we join up with those kind of people. We'll be ineffective as Christians unless we separate ourselves from this ungodly world. The salt will lose its savor when we join hands with the religious world. Light and darkness don't mix. Our message will be diluted when we are unequally yoked. We'll send the wrong message to the world. What's the purpose of preaching salvation by grace through faith alone when we join hands with those that don't teach salvation by grace through faith alone? We're wasting our time. We're in essence saying we're approving of what they're teaching when we join hands with those that preach heresy. It won't work. God says to come out from among them and be ye separate.
As far as I'm concerned, Glenn Beck was sincere in the purpose of holding the "Restoring Honor" rally. My problem with religious leaders being allowed to come together in unity in this rally wasn't that I questioned Beck's sincerity. Probably most of those that took part in organizing the event were sincere. Sincerity is not the issue. One thing that bothers me was there were two Evangelicals in attendance at this rally that should've known better. They were Pastor John Hagee in San Antonio, Texas, and psychologist Dr. James Dobson. Hagee knows enough about the Bible to know God's people aren't to join up with religious leaders in the name of Christianity. The problem is it's an ecumenical event. What is ecumenism? Ecumenism is the movement where Evangelicals and religious leaders of opposing doctrinal views come together to join in a common cause dismissing theological issues. America has been a part of ecumenical efforts in the past. On March 29, 1994, a group of Evangelicals and Catholics got together in a show of unity for common causes. Chuck Colson headed up that movement. Also, during this time, Promise Keepers sprang up across America. It was a men's movement which reached across denominational barriers that joined men together in unity making a promise that they would pledge to be faithful to their wives. Now Glenn Beck has been trying to bring together religious figures from different denominations for a common cause. On yesterday's program, Beck had different religious leaders on his program such as Dave Roever and a Jewish rabbi, to name a couple. Beck for the last several months has been trying to emphasize America's need to come back to God. He's been trying to encourage Americans to concentrate on faith. Beck has played a role in bringing all these religious leaders together last Saturday. One thing I want to make abundantly clear: I'm not speaking of a political rally or some rally for a political cause. I recognize when a group of Americans assemble together in a political group such as the Tea Party for example, there will be numerous people represented who belong to a number of denominations. However, when you invoke the name of Jesus or spirituality in a particular rally, it takes on an entirely different nature. You're dealing with something totally different when spirituality is involved. When it's about Jesus, we as Christians aren't supposed to yoke up with unbelievers. Yet that's what you're seeing take place in Christendom. That's been happening for years. Years ago the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches was formed to promote ecumenism. Today many Evangelicals are hitching up with the Catholics and Mormons for some specific cause.
Most of those that are saved believe America is in desperate straits spiritually. We would agree that America needs an awakening and the church needs a revival. I don't believe there would be much dispute about that; especially those in fundamentalist circles. However, revival nor an awakening is going to come about with a group of religious leaders coming together setting aside theological differences. The Bible says that God's people must turn from their sin and have their relationship with God make right. II Chronicles 7:14 says that if God's people will turn their face toward Heaven and seek his face and repent of their sins, then God will heal their land. That's not going to happen with a group of religious leaders coming together. God doesn't bless the union of believers and non-believers. What fellowship hath light with darkness? Amos 3:3 says, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" How can preachers that call themselves preachers come together at a rally which supposedly is about America needing to come back to God yoke up with other religious leaders that don't believe the Bible? How can Christians yoke up with heretics for a "spiritual" cause? That's not possible. However, that's what's taking place all the time. America isn't going to come to God when the righteous hook up with the unrighteous. Proverbs 14:34 says that righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people. You won't have righteousness produced when light and darkness come together for a spiritual cause. Any righteousness that's represented will be snuffed out by the unrighteousness. Oil and water don't mix. Righteousness and unrighteousness don't mix. God will not honor nor bless Christians yoking up with unbelievers. It's sin when believers and unbelievers yoke up together.
America needs God desperately. There's no dispute about that. America needs to turn to God. However, an awakening won't come through religious rallies such as the "Restoring Honor" rally. God's people won't turn and repent of their sins by ecumenical rallies. II John vs. 10 states, "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:" We shouldn't allow those to come into our homes such as the Jehovah Witnesses to push their doctrine on us, for example. We're not to mess with them. If we're not to allow heretics such as the Jehovah Witnesses into our homes, then what business do Christians have in yoking up with unbelievers at a religious rally? None whatsoever. The ecumencial movement is not of God. God's will is for the spreading of the gospel unto the ends of the earth (Mark 16:15). The Bible says that the Word of God is to be preached in and out of season. God majors in preaching. God's preachers are to preach the unadulterated Word of God. If America is to experience an awakening, it won't be the result of some religious rally where religious figures come together in a show of unity. America will awakened when God's people recognize they need to draw closer unto God and they plead with God to send revival to the local churches. When God's people are revived then the church can be on fire with the power of God. A revived church will affect the surrounding community. Then that's when America will be awakened. It will be when God's people are living the kind of lives that convict the lost world around them. Living a Godly, consecrated life will do more to awaken our country than religious leaders who don't even preach out of a Bible gather together at a religious rally. God's not the author of ecumenism. God says His people are to be separated and distinctly different from the world. What kind of message are we sending when we join hands with those kind of people? We're saying that the heresy they're propagating isn't a huge deal. It is a huge deal! We lose our ability as Christians to be salt and light when we join up with those kind of people. We'll be ineffective as Christians unless we separate ourselves from this ungodly world. The salt will lose its savor when we join hands with the religious world. Light and darkness don't mix. Our message will be diluted when we are unequally yoked. We'll send the wrong message to the world. What's the purpose of preaching salvation by grace through faith alone when we join hands with those that don't teach salvation by grace through faith alone? We're wasting our time. We're in essence saying we're approving of what they're teaching when we join hands with those that preach heresy. It won't work. God says to come out from among them and be ye separate.
Friday, September 3, 2010
The 2001 Bush Tax Cuts Set to Expire on January 1, 2011
YouTube - Sounding the Alarm on Ending Tax Cuts
(USA Today) On July 13, 2010, former New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner passed away. His death on July 13 occurred six months after the federal estate tax expired. "Forbes" magazine estimates the Yankees owner's net worth was $1.15 billion, so the timing of Steinbrenner's death could save his heirs up to $500 million in federal estate taxes. However, future heirs may not be as fortunate. The federal estate tax is scheduled to return on January 1, 2011, imposing a levy of up to 55% on estates valued at more than $1 million. That not only includes the deceased person's income, but the property they owned, their assets, etc. which wouldn't take long for their total worth to equal $1 million. The same congressional paralysis that allowed the tax to expire in 2010 could thwart efforts to pare it back, estate planning attorneys say. A $1 million exemption could affect a lot of families that are out of Steinbrenner's league. "You take a home, an IRA or a 401(k) retirement account, some other savings and you get to $1 million very easily," says Richard Behrendt, senior estate planner for Robert W. Baird and a former IRS attorney.
Fred Thompson, an attorney and a former U.S. Senator from Tennessee, has been airing commercials since July encouraging voters to petition Congress to renew the Bush tax cuts that are set to expire on January 1, 2011. I recently saw him on "Hannity" one evening on the Fox News Channel discussing this issue. I have the interview that Thompson had with Hannity on this post. I clicked on a website and it had an article which I'm going to use to list some of the tax increases that are likely to happen starting in January if the Bush tax cuts aren't renewed. The name of the article is "Six Months to Go Until the Largest Tax Hikes in History."
First wave: Expiration of 2001 and 2003 Tax Relief
In just six months, the largest tax hikes in the history of America will take effect. They will hit families and small businesses in three great waves on January 1, 2011. In 2001 and 2003, the GOP Congress enacted several tax cuts for investors, small business owners, and families. These will all expire on January 1, 2011.
Personal income tax rates will rise. The top income tax rate will rise from 35 to 39.6 percent (this is also the rate at which two-thirds of small business profits are taxed). The lowest rate will rise from 10 to 15 percent. All the rates in between will also rise. Itemized deductions and personal exemptions will again phase out, which has the same mathematical effect as higher marginal tax rates. The full list of marginal rate hikes is below.
The 10% backet rises to an expanded 15%.
The 25% bracket rises to 28%.
The 28% bracket rises to 31%.
The 33% bracket rises to 36%.
The 35% bracket rises to 39.6%.
Higher taxes on marriage and family. The "marriage penalty" (narrower tax brackers for married couples) will return from the first dollar of income. The child tax credit will be cut in half from $1000 to $500 per child. The standard deduction will no longer be doubled for married couples relative to the single level. The dependent care and adoption tax credits will be cut.
The return of the Death Tax. This year, there is no death tax. For those dying on or after January 1, 2011, there is a 55 percent top death tax rate on estates over $1 million. A person leaving behind two homes and a retirement account could easily pass along a death tax bill to their loved ones.
Higher tax rates on savers and investors. The capital gains tax will rise from 15% this year to 20% in 2011. The dividend tax will rise from 15% this year to 39.6% in 2011. These rates will rise another 3.8% in 2013.
Second Wave: Obamacare There are over twenty new or higher taxes in Obamacare. Several will first go into effect on January 1, 2011. They include:
The Tanning Tax. This went into effect on July 1 of this year. It imposes a new, 10% excise tax on getting a tan at a tanning salon. There is no exemption for tanners making less than $250,000 per year.
The "Medicine Cabinet Tax" thanks to Obamacare, Americans will no longer be able to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin).
The HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike. This provision of Obamacare increases the additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRA's and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10%.
Brand Name Drug Tax. Starting next year, there will be a multi-billion dollar tax assessment imposed on name-brand drug manufacturers. This tax, like all excise taxes, will raise the price of medicine, hurting everyone.
Economic Substance Doctrine. The IRS is now empowered to disallow perfectly-legal tax deductions and maneuvers merely because it judges that the deduction or action lacks "economic substance." This is obviously an arbitrary empowerment of IRS agents.
Employer Reporting of Health Insurance Costs on a W-2. This will start for W-2's in the 2011 tax year. While not a tax increase in itself, it makes it very easy for Congress to tax employer-provided healthcare benefits later.
Third Wave: The Alternative Minimum Tax and Employer Tax Hikes
When Americans prepare to file their tax returns in January of 2011, they'll be in for a nasty surprise--the AMT won't be held harmless, and many tax relief provisions will have expried. These major terms include:
The AMT will ensnare over 28 million families, up from 4 million last year. According to the left-leaning Tax Policy Center, Congress' failure to index the AMT will lead to an explosion of AMT taxpaying families--rising from 4 million last year to 28.5 million. These families will have to calculate their tax burdens twice, and pay taxes at the highest level. The AMT was created in 1969 to ensnare a handful of taxpayers.
Small business expensing will be slashed and 50% expensing will disappear. Small businesses can normally expense (rather than slowly-deduct, or "depreciate") equipment purchases up to $250,000. This will be cut all the way down to $25,000. Larger businesses can expense half of their purchases of equipment. In January of 2011, all of it will have to be "depreciated."
Taxes will be raised on all types of businesses. There are literally scores of tax hikes on business that will take place. The biggest is the loss of the "research and experimentation tax credit," but there are many, many others. Combining high marginal tax rates with the loss of this tax relief will cost jobs.
Tax benefits for Education and Teaching Reduced. The deduction for tuition and fees will not be available. Tax credits for education will be limited. Teachers will no longer be able to deduct classroom expense. Coverdell Education Savings Accounts will be cut. Employer-provided education assistance is curtailed. The student loan interest deduction will be disallowed for hundreds of thousands of families.
Charitable contributions from IRA's no longer allowed. Under current law, a retired person with an IRA can contribute up to $100,000 per year directly to a charity from their IRA. This contribution also counts toward an annual "required minimum distribution." This ability will no longer be there.
(USA Today) On July 13, 2010, former New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner passed away. His death on July 13 occurred six months after the federal estate tax expired. "Forbes" magazine estimates the Yankees owner's net worth was $1.15 billion, so the timing of Steinbrenner's death could save his heirs up to $500 million in federal estate taxes. However, future heirs may not be as fortunate. The federal estate tax is scheduled to return on January 1, 2011, imposing a levy of up to 55% on estates valued at more than $1 million. That not only includes the deceased person's income, but the property they owned, their assets, etc. which wouldn't take long for their total worth to equal $1 million. The same congressional paralysis that allowed the tax to expire in 2010 could thwart efforts to pare it back, estate planning attorneys say. A $1 million exemption could affect a lot of families that are out of Steinbrenner's league. "You take a home, an IRA or a 401(k) retirement account, some other savings and you get to $1 million very easily," says Richard Behrendt, senior estate planner for Robert W. Baird and a former IRS attorney.
Fred Thompson, an attorney and a former U.S. Senator from Tennessee, has been airing commercials since July encouraging voters to petition Congress to renew the Bush tax cuts that are set to expire on January 1, 2011. I recently saw him on "Hannity" one evening on the Fox News Channel discussing this issue. I have the interview that Thompson had with Hannity on this post. I clicked on a website and it had an article which I'm going to use to list some of the tax increases that are likely to happen starting in January if the Bush tax cuts aren't renewed. The name of the article is "Six Months to Go Until the Largest Tax Hikes in History."
First wave: Expiration of 2001 and 2003 Tax Relief
In just six months, the largest tax hikes in the history of America will take effect. They will hit families and small businesses in three great waves on January 1, 2011. In 2001 and 2003, the GOP Congress enacted several tax cuts for investors, small business owners, and families. These will all expire on January 1, 2011.
Personal income tax rates will rise. The top income tax rate will rise from 35 to 39.6 percent (this is also the rate at which two-thirds of small business profits are taxed). The lowest rate will rise from 10 to 15 percent. All the rates in between will also rise. Itemized deductions and personal exemptions will again phase out, which has the same mathematical effect as higher marginal tax rates. The full list of marginal rate hikes is below.
The 10% backet rises to an expanded 15%.
The 25% bracket rises to 28%.
The 28% bracket rises to 31%.
The 33% bracket rises to 36%.
The 35% bracket rises to 39.6%.
Higher taxes on marriage and family. The "marriage penalty" (narrower tax brackers for married couples) will return from the first dollar of income. The child tax credit will be cut in half from $1000 to $500 per child. The standard deduction will no longer be doubled for married couples relative to the single level. The dependent care and adoption tax credits will be cut.
The return of the Death Tax. This year, there is no death tax. For those dying on or after January 1, 2011, there is a 55 percent top death tax rate on estates over $1 million. A person leaving behind two homes and a retirement account could easily pass along a death tax bill to their loved ones.
Higher tax rates on savers and investors. The capital gains tax will rise from 15% this year to 20% in 2011. The dividend tax will rise from 15% this year to 39.6% in 2011. These rates will rise another 3.8% in 2013.
Second Wave: Obamacare There are over twenty new or higher taxes in Obamacare. Several will first go into effect on January 1, 2011. They include:
The Tanning Tax. This went into effect on July 1 of this year. It imposes a new, 10% excise tax on getting a tan at a tanning salon. There is no exemption for tanners making less than $250,000 per year.
The "Medicine Cabinet Tax" thanks to Obamacare, Americans will no longer be able to use health savings account (HSA), flexible spending account (FSA), or health reimbursement (HRA) pre-tax dollars to purchase non-prescription, over-the-counter medicines (except insulin).
The HSA Withdrawal Tax Hike. This provision of Obamacare increases the additional tax on non-medical early withdrawals from an HSA from 10 to 20 percent, disadvantaging them relative to IRA's and other tax-advantaged accounts, which remain at 10%.
Brand Name Drug Tax. Starting next year, there will be a multi-billion dollar tax assessment imposed on name-brand drug manufacturers. This tax, like all excise taxes, will raise the price of medicine, hurting everyone.
Economic Substance Doctrine. The IRS is now empowered to disallow perfectly-legal tax deductions and maneuvers merely because it judges that the deduction or action lacks "economic substance." This is obviously an arbitrary empowerment of IRS agents.
Employer Reporting of Health Insurance Costs on a W-2. This will start for W-2's in the 2011 tax year. While not a tax increase in itself, it makes it very easy for Congress to tax employer-provided healthcare benefits later.
Third Wave: The Alternative Minimum Tax and Employer Tax Hikes
When Americans prepare to file their tax returns in January of 2011, they'll be in for a nasty surprise--the AMT won't be held harmless, and many tax relief provisions will have expried. These major terms include:
The AMT will ensnare over 28 million families, up from 4 million last year. According to the left-leaning Tax Policy Center, Congress' failure to index the AMT will lead to an explosion of AMT taxpaying families--rising from 4 million last year to 28.5 million. These families will have to calculate their tax burdens twice, and pay taxes at the highest level. The AMT was created in 1969 to ensnare a handful of taxpayers.
Small business expensing will be slashed and 50% expensing will disappear. Small businesses can normally expense (rather than slowly-deduct, or "depreciate") equipment purchases up to $250,000. This will be cut all the way down to $25,000. Larger businesses can expense half of their purchases of equipment. In January of 2011, all of it will have to be "depreciated."
Taxes will be raised on all types of businesses. There are literally scores of tax hikes on business that will take place. The biggest is the loss of the "research and experimentation tax credit," but there are many, many others. Combining high marginal tax rates with the loss of this tax relief will cost jobs.
Tax benefits for Education and Teaching Reduced. The deduction for tuition and fees will not be available. Tax credits for education will be limited. Teachers will no longer be able to deduct classroom expense. Coverdell Education Savings Accounts will be cut. Employer-provided education assistance is curtailed. The student loan interest deduction will be disallowed for hundreds of thousands of families.
Charitable contributions from IRA's no longer allowed. Under current law, a retired person with an IRA can contribute up to $100,000 per year directly to a charity from their IRA. This contribution also counts toward an annual "required minimum distribution." This ability will no longer be there.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
"It's Time to Turn the Page" President Barack Obama
YouTube - Part 1 President Obama's Address On End Of Combat Mission In Iraq - 08/31/10
(USA Today) President Obama made a television appearance before the American people Tuesday stating that the combat operations in Iraq was (supposedly) signaling an end. President Obama stated that he's turning the job of securing Iraq back to its people, heralding the end of the combat operations which endured for nearly 7.5 years. The war in Iraq was a war in which President Bush began in March 2003 and when Bush's term in office ended in January 2009, he handed over the war to President Obama. President Obama wasn't supportive of the war when he was U.S. Senator. He voted against the troop surge in January 2007. Obama stated before the voters "We have met our responsibility," Obama said in a 19-minute speech to the nation from the White House. "Now, it is time to turn the page." Obama has drawn nearly 100,000 troops from Iraq since taking office, and the remaining 50,000 will train and support the country's security forces. We still will an American presence in Iraq for security purposes. All the troops are targeted to come home by the end of 2011. Whether they will or not remains to be seen.
"Ending the war is not only in Iraq's interest--it is in our own," Obama said in his second Oval Office address. "The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people." Since former President George W. Bush decided to invade Iraq and topple Saddam Hussein, more than 4400 U.S. servicemembers have been killed and $1 trillion spent. Despite these costs, some violence continues, and Iraq's leaders have failed to form a coalition government since elections last March. Obama pressed Iraqis to "move forward with a sense of urgency." The president briefly mentioned "political disagreements" about Iraq that divided Americans. In his speech and in remarks earlier at Fort Bliss in Texas he praised U.S. troops for their courage and noted "we don't argue that we've got the finest force in the history of the world." That force continues to face a "very tough fight in Afghanistan," Obama told the Texas soldiers. He has added nearly 30,000 troops to that war, tripling to nearly 100,000 those fighting insurgents there. He's insisted to the nation that the longest war in U.S. history won't continue dragging on. "As was the case in Iraq, we cannot do for Afghans what they must ultimately do themselves." Those troop withdrawals, he said, will depend on conditions on the ground but will begin next August."
President Obama claims his most urgent task will be jump-starting the economy and getting millions of unemployed Americans back to work. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, speaking to the American Legion National Convention in Milwaukee on Tuesday, cautioned that Al-Qaeda is "beaten but not gone" in Iraq.
(USA Today) President Obama made a television appearance before the American people Tuesday stating that the combat operations in Iraq was (supposedly) signaling an end. President Obama stated that he's turning the job of securing Iraq back to its people, heralding the end of the combat operations which endured for nearly 7.5 years. The war in Iraq was a war in which President Bush began in March 2003 and when Bush's term in office ended in January 2009, he handed over the war to President Obama. President Obama wasn't supportive of the war when he was U.S. Senator. He voted against the troop surge in January 2007. Obama stated before the voters "We have met our responsibility," Obama said in a 19-minute speech to the nation from the White House. "Now, it is time to turn the page." Obama has drawn nearly 100,000 troops from Iraq since taking office, and the remaining 50,000 will train and support the country's security forces. We still will an American presence in Iraq for security purposes. All the troops are targeted to come home by the end of 2011. Whether they will or not remains to be seen.
"Ending the war is not only in Iraq's interest--it is in our own," Obama said in his second Oval Office address. "The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people." Since former President George W. Bush decided to invade Iraq and topple Saddam Hussein, more than 4400 U.S. servicemembers have been killed and $1 trillion spent. Despite these costs, some violence continues, and Iraq's leaders have failed to form a coalition government since elections last March. Obama pressed Iraqis to "move forward with a sense of urgency." The president briefly mentioned "political disagreements" about Iraq that divided Americans. In his speech and in remarks earlier at Fort Bliss in Texas he praised U.S. troops for their courage and noted "we don't argue that we've got the finest force in the history of the world." That force continues to face a "very tough fight in Afghanistan," Obama told the Texas soldiers. He has added nearly 30,000 troops to that war, tripling to nearly 100,000 those fighting insurgents there. He's insisted to the nation that the longest war in U.S. history won't continue dragging on. "As was the case in Iraq, we cannot do for Afghans what they must ultimately do themselves." Those troop withdrawals, he said, will depend on conditions on the ground but will begin next August."
President Obama claims his most urgent task will be jump-starting the economy and getting millions of unemployed Americans back to work. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, speaking to the American Legion National Convention in Milwaukee on Tuesday, cautioned that Al-Qaeda is "beaten but not gone" in Iraq.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
"Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You, Ask What You Can Do For Your Country" John F. Kennedy
YouTube - Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You!
On January 20, 1961 when President John F. Kennedy gave his famous inaugural address, he make this famous quote, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." I liked that particular line in his address. Many people have referenced that quote from Kennedy on a number of occasions. Even though I didn't approve of Kennedy's womanizing, there are some things that I like about the former president. I believe he probably was the last best Democratic president America ever had. By no means was he perfect. He made mistakes. However, I believed he loved America and I believe he tried to encourage Americans to volunteer and serve their country. He desired for America to be no. 1. He desired for America to be the country that other nations in this world could look up to. Back in 1961, he told Congress that he had a desire for America to send the first man to the moon before the end of the decade. America fulfilled that promised on July 20, 1969. He reduced taxes on the American people. He started the Peace Corps in 1961. He didn't run around all over the world like President Obama apologizing for America. He didn't apologize for America's feats. The spirit that America had then I wish was prevalent in America today. However, when you estimate the size of the rally held in Washington, D.C. this past Saturday, are still some Americans that are willing to volunteer their time to make America a great country.
In today's America, there are an increasing group of Americans who uphold this entitlement mentality. There are some that believe that government owes them a living. There are some families who've lived on welfare for the past few generations. In the last 15 or so years, America has went from being a nation of producers to a nation of consumers. That's tragic. We can't thrive as a country economically when we don't produce our own goods. It will haunt us one day down the road. We've lost that frontier spirit we once had when this country first began. When I consider all the luxuries we possess at our disposal I recognize how truly blessed we are as a country. God's been good to us. When you survey the country from east to west from north to south, you have to wonder in amazement how great this country is. There's been copious amounts of labor performed to build this country. We've had generations who have built America. It's taken a lot of time and sacrifice to produce what we have today. We had generations of people who were willing to blaze trails so generations like ours could reap the benefits of all their labors. What's tragic in our society is we've become lazy. We're an ungrateful people. We've taken for granted the price that was paid in generations past. Today we are complacement when it comes to serving and contributing to this country. We have a responsibility to contribute to this country. God's placed us here in this world for a reason. God's allowed us the opportunity to labor. We owe a debt of gratitude to past generations.
We as Americans must recognize freedom isn't cheap. Freedom is costly. We've become so complacement and forgotten our history. We've forgotten about those that lost their lives on the battlefield for us to enjoy our freedoms today. There is plenty we can involve ourselves with in this nation. Every generation has that responsibility to contribute their part. There are opportunities that we can involve ourselves in. I want to publicly thank those that have sacrificed and contributed their part in making America a great country.
On January 20, 1961 when President John F. Kennedy gave his famous inaugural address, he make this famous quote, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." I liked that particular line in his address. Many people have referenced that quote from Kennedy on a number of occasions. Even though I didn't approve of Kennedy's womanizing, there are some things that I like about the former president. I believe he probably was the last best Democratic president America ever had. By no means was he perfect. He made mistakes. However, I believed he loved America and I believe he tried to encourage Americans to volunteer and serve their country. He desired for America to be no. 1. He desired for America to be the country that other nations in this world could look up to. Back in 1961, he told Congress that he had a desire for America to send the first man to the moon before the end of the decade. America fulfilled that promised on July 20, 1969. He reduced taxes on the American people. He started the Peace Corps in 1961. He didn't run around all over the world like President Obama apologizing for America. He didn't apologize for America's feats. The spirit that America had then I wish was prevalent in America today. However, when you estimate the size of the rally held in Washington, D.C. this past Saturday, are still some Americans that are willing to volunteer their time to make America a great country.
In today's America, there are an increasing group of Americans who uphold this entitlement mentality. There are some that believe that government owes them a living. There are some families who've lived on welfare for the past few generations. In the last 15 or so years, America has went from being a nation of producers to a nation of consumers. That's tragic. We can't thrive as a country economically when we don't produce our own goods. It will haunt us one day down the road. We've lost that frontier spirit we once had when this country first began. When I consider all the luxuries we possess at our disposal I recognize how truly blessed we are as a country. God's been good to us. When you survey the country from east to west from north to south, you have to wonder in amazement how great this country is. There's been copious amounts of labor performed to build this country. We've had generations who have built America. It's taken a lot of time and sacrifice to produce what we have today. We had generations of people who were willing to blaze trails so generations like ours could reap the benefits of all their labors. What's tragic in our society is we've become lazy. We're an ungrateful people. We've taken for granted the price that was paid in generations past. Today we are complacement when it comes to serving and contributing to this country. We have a responsibility to contribute to this country. God's placed us here in this world for a reason. God's allowed us the opportunity to labor. We owe a debt of gratitude to past generations.
We as Americans must recognize freedom isn't cheap. Freedom is costly. We've become so complacement and forgotten our history. We've forgotten about those that lost their lives on the battlefield for us to enjoy our freedoms today. There is plenty we can involve ourselves with in this nation. Every generation has that responsibility to contribute their part. There are opportunities that we can involve ourselves in. I want to publicly thank those that have sacrificed and contributed their part in making America a great country.
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