AZ Governor Jan Brewer

 dances.

She repeated herself like a drunken parrot, made misstatements, rambled, refused to respond to questions about her comments and finally went totally silent for about 15 seconds. No one will be able to avoid seeing replays of this stunning performance and Goddard will likely slap, “I’m Terry Goddard, and I approved this message” at the end of one of the debate highlights to run as a TV spot.

The question that really needs to be addressed is Does one debate define a candidate?  There are wonderful human beings who can barely execute a complete sentence. There are those who communicate brilliantly, almost poetically, but have lousy characters. There are also people who are gifted communicators and possess great integrity.

Constituents may glean more of what a candidate believes and is capable of doing when the candidate is articulate. But history is replete with examples of shining orators who were unethical, incompetent or both. Some have even occupied the Arizona Governor’s office or been residents of the White House.

Estimates indicate that most people are definitively aligned with a party and will choose the candidate accordingly. There is a small margin (around 10%) that is sincerely undecided and whose votes will be swayed by debate performances. This fact begs the question of whether primary elections even need debates. They are expensive, distracting for the participants and relatively unproductive to the voting process. They are a show…a performance.

Political debates are the lazy man’s way of learning about the candidates; The Reader’s Digest version of summing up the volumes of good and valid information available to every citizen willing to read.

Brewer may not be a sound bite machine but she doesn’t appear to have been involved in scandals or questionable ethics in her many years of government service. When she inherited the Governor’s job she listened to what the vast majority of her state was saying and took bold action to accomplish something her predecessor never did. She got legislation passed (SB 1070) that helps protect against illegal immigration. Approximately 70% of the people of this country supported her battle for this law.

Whether you agree with Brewer or think she’s a lunatic, make sure you base your decision (about all elected officials) on legitimate research of the candidate’s history. Are they capable, wise and sincere…or do they just deliver a power-packed speech?

Do you believe we gain valuable insight by primary debates? Will Brewer’s bumbling performance cause you or others to change their vote?

Diane  Markins

Why do some people walk away?

If a person has faith he or she (by definition) also has hope. Belief in God, following a defined way of life (such as the Bible contains) and accessing the joyful, promise-filled attitude Christ-followers maintain doesn’t have much of a down-side.

Why then do many people abandon their faith? Perhaps they were raised going to church every week or maybe only exposed to these principles by a grandma on summer visits– but came to a point of claiming Christ as their own…then one day they walk away.

I think it comes down to a couple of key experiences: crisis of faith or wrong teaching.

Brilliant theologians like Oswald Chambers, C.S. Lewis and Corrie Ten Boom have pondered and addressed the fact that most believers experience a crisis of faith at some point in their life. When we get hit with the unimaginable loss of a loved one, face a debilitating affliction or come against a battle to survive a financial crisis, God may begin to recede from the forefront of our reality.

During such times it’s not uncommon to ask, “Where are you God…are you even real?” As we face this dark time of doubt we begin to examine what we believe and why we believe it. For most, this is a good thing because they emerge as stronger, more committed believers. For some, the loss over-shadows their faith and they aren’t able to find their way back. This is sad and a loss for the person who walks away, but an even greater loss to fellow believers.

Another grievous scenario is when leaders teach falsehoods, alienating people from faith. When a pastor wins trust but misleads his congregation he forces them to ultimately make a choice; keep their faith in this system of rules and lies or walk away. They aren’t even aware that there’s a real God who doesn’t have anything to do with the nonsense they’ve been fed, so don’t know there’s another option.

If you or someone you know has defected from their faith, I encourage you to not abandon them. Continue to love and pray for them and let the Holy Spirit reveal the truth of a loving God through your sweet actions not your preachy words. Let them see God in you…words are cheap but actions go deep!

Did you ever experience a crisis of faith, receive false teaching or walk away from God? Please share below to encourage or receive encouragement from others.

Diane Markins

We Were Once Orphans

By: Theresia Whitfield

Do you remember the first moment you cried Abba? In that moment of calling, we recognized, perhaps unknowingly, that we were spiritual orphans. Our cry was answered with the legal adoption into the forever family of the God who created us. The Abba cry of our adoption defines who we are and what family we belong to.

As Christians, we are called to care for orphans. Jesus’ brother, James, tells us that caring for widows and orphans is the essence of “pure and undefiled” religion (1:27). Russell D. Moore, author of Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches, recently noted that orphan care is missional but that doesn’t mean every Christian is called to adopt or foster a child.

“As with every aspect of Christ’s mission, a diversity of gifts abounds,” he said. “Some have room at their table and in their hearts for another stocking on the mantle this Christmas. Others are gifted financially. Others can lead mission trips to rock, hug and sing to orphans who may never be adopted. All of us can pray… for orphans the world over.”

In the meantime, the enemy is still at work, and he hates orphan advocacy because, as Moore puts it, “these actions are icons of the gospel’s eternal reality.”  

One stark reality with which I have become acquainted is in Bulembu, a small town in the northwestern region of Swaziland that is privately owned by the Bulembu Foundation. Bulembu lost nearly all of its 10,000 citizens when they were forced to relocate to find work after the main employer left town in 2001. Add to that the highest rate of AIDS cases in the world, and you’ve got the makings of devastation beyond measure. Statistics show a 900% increase in AIDS cases in just 10 years. Add the negative population growth rate (-.41%) with the current death rate, it is expected the Swazi people will cease to exist by 2050.

The Bulembu Foundation’s mission is as a not-for-profit organization serving Jesus Christ by restoring hope to the people of Swaziland. Two strategies are in place to accomplish returning this community to a self-sustaining entity by 2020. Community care programs are transforming the town through Bulembu’s Orphan Care Program, Christian academy and clinic. Using the infrastructure left behind by the mining industry, Bulembu leadership is developing numerous opportunities to build innovative, sustainable and profitable businesses.

To support the Bulembu Foundation, the popular group, the Canadian Tenors launched Voices for Bulembu, their annual concert raising funds so this transformational work can continue. As you read this, the Tenors will be in Bulembu for the second time in as many years, seeing the work that has taken place and learning what still needs to happen to ensure success.

I have been blessed to walk alongside the Tenors on this journey by telling as many people as possible about the orphans of Bulembu through my own blog and other writing. This is my giftedness, my pure and undefiled religion. We were once orphans, desperate, alone and without hope for a future. Only when we cried out did our future change for eternity. But there are millions of orphans across the globe whose daily cries remain unanswered. Abba has asked us to respond on His behalf. How will you answer?

To learn more about supporting the Bulembu Foundation and Voices for Bulembu, click here to be redirected to a secure online  catalog.

Theresia Whitfield is an award-winning writer/journalist with more than 12 years experience in TV news with such organizations as CNN and Reuters Television. She’s been published in more than two-dozen national and international

Theresia Whitfield

publications. She lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband, Kurt, and dog, Fletcher. 

If you’e like me, you’ve watched those heart-wrenching commercials on TV imploring you to sponsor a child. It’s compelling, but then we change the channel. Seeing the sad, beseeching children on the streets of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, I ached to fix it…do something. Many people are stepping up to this call. Friends like Theresia, Julie Ferwerda and Rachel Eggum Cinader aren’t standing by watching helplessly. Neither should we! Please share your perspective and experience below.

Diane Markins

It was over a decade ago in 1999 that the “morning after” pill known as Plan B (synthetic progesterone) was legalized in the United States. In August 2006, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) determined Plan B should be available to women 18 and older without a prescription. Taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex, this pill is used to prevent pregnancy by one of three ways: it can prevent ovulation, stop fertilization of the egg or prohibit the fertilized egg from lodging in the uterus.

In September 2000, during the final months of President Bill Clinton’s last term, another drug, RU486 (the abortion pill) was approved by the FDA for use in the United States. This little pill, marketed as Mifepristone, can be taken up to seven weeks into the pregnancy. Once the pregnancy is confirmed and the drug is ingested, the mother’s body shuts down the preparation of the uterus and initiates the normal menstrual process, causing the fetus to dislodge and be flushed from the body.

Then last month, on June 17, the FDA’s Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs voted unanimously to recommend approval of Ella, an “emergency contraceptive” drug. This drug may be taken up to five days after unprotected sex or “suspected contraception failure.” It functions in much the same way as Mifepristone but with a window of opportunity that exceeds Plan B. It is not intended for use as contraception or as a method of terminating an “ongoing” pregnancy…yet the FDA advisory panel voted against recommending any precautions or labels that would inform women that Ella could cause an early term abortion, as well as bring about several health risks.

Additionally, the Obama Administration has proposed rescinding the “conscience” rule, which upholds the rights of doctors and nurses to refuse a medical service on religious or moral grounds. Many pro-life groups are concerned about the trend and particularly upset over this most recent decision to endorse the approval of Ella. They are saddened that decision makers under this Administration believe that early pregnancy termination should require no more consideration than “taking an aspirin,” but even more so that women will be mislead into believing that this is simply contraception with no possibility of early abortion.

While a recent survey by the National Association of Evangelicals shows that nearly 90% of leaders and congregants approve of contraception, it is fair to say that about the same number applies to those who are opposed to abortion. There is truly a distinction between preventing a pregnancy and terminating one (no matter how advanced). Ella blurs that line.

The Bible makes it clear that God has plans for each of us, even before we were formed in the womb. “Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.” (Isaiah 49:1)

The abortion debate will likely never end, but one thing everyone seems to agree on is that abortion is very difficult for women who have them. There are countless Internet sites listing counseling options for post-abortion depression. One (secular) site says, “After an abortion, women feel like they are the only ones experiencing sadness. In reality, millions of women feel abandoned and sad after an abortion choice, but they are afraid to talk about it out of fear of condemnation and misunderstanding…”

Noah Jeffrey Markins is a baby not a choice...he's also my grandson.

Some statistics indicate that 43% of women under the age of 55 have chosen to have an abortion and 38% of these women are church members. (AGI 1998) As the FDA continues on this slippery slope, making “voluntary termination” and early abortion options as easy as buying a fast food burger, it seems likely that those numbers will continue to increase.

Most of us know someone who’s had an abortion. Do you? Did you try to encourage them to consider other options? Were your kind and compassionate to them, regardless of their choice? What do you think about this committee’s decision on Ella? Comment below…anonymous is always an option on this site.

Diane Markins

*This post was excerpted from an issues piece on the Presidential Prayer Team, written by Diane Markins.

Seeking Solace in Unexpected Places: How The Karate Kid Lifted Me Up to a Higher Place 

I was in a state of strong emotional turmoil, having weathered a series of unexpected personal storms. I had fallen into a deep pit of devastating despair and was grieving so many lost opportunities. It seemed as if nothing could rescue me from the hopelessness I was experiencing at that moment. There were no words of consolation for me…no comfort that would bring me back from the abyss.

Then I escaped to the movies and found unexpected jewels of light and hope within the plotline of the children’s favorite, The Karate Kid. It is easy to dismiss popular movies as just another form of mindless entertainment. But films with widespread box office appeal can still inspire and uplift, challenging one’s preconceptions and changing one’s mindset. I found that such is the case with The Karate Kid. 

This enterprising remake tells the story of 12-year-old Dre Parker (Jaden Smith, son of superstar Will Smith) who could have easily become quite popular in his hometown of Detroit.  However, because of his mother’s career, he relocates to China, where the rules of life appear to be different. 

Dre is captivated by his classmate Mei Ying (Han Wenwen), but cultural challenges jeopardize the relationship.  He is also at a distinct disadvantage because the story’s major bully, Cheng, is Mei’s childhood buddy. Fortunately, a maintenance man, Mr. Han (Jackie Chen) comes to Dre’s aid and teaches him that the art of kung fu is really based not on violent moves, but on serenity and maturity.

 There are many parallels between the film’s plotline and the Christian life.

Take the scene in which Dre and Mr. Han reach the top of a mountain following a long, challenging hike.  As they are poised at the precipice, they spot a woman practicing tai chi with a cobra moving in synchronicity before her – a stirring sight, to be sure. There is certainly a sense of mystery about this unexpected scene.

From what he can surmise, Dre concludes that the woman is mimicking the snake’s movements, and shares his observation with his companion. But Mr. Han corrects him, saying that it is the snake that is following the lead of the woman.  Of course, this insight brings up a number of questions for the movie-goer.

Why does the snake follow the woman’s lead?  Why is the woman so calm?  And why is her sense of calmness so captivating?

The conclusions I drew were born of Christian faith. The Holy Spirit is our guide and comforter; the Spirit leads and provides solace to the woman, as the Spirit leads and provides solace to us.  Thanks to the Holy Spirit, we have within ourselves the power to overcome evil as we face adversity in our day-to-day lives. The Holy Spirit can elevate us, lifting us out of moments of pain and turmoil.  We tap into God’s strength through the life preserver known as prayer. We can go from crisis to calm in 30 minutes, knowing that the Holy Spirit is there to power us through our trials. I myself felt a renewed sense of purpose, after watching Dre’s triumph on screen.  

The woman’s internal tranquility is also reminiscent of that of Christ, who displayed utter serenity in the midst of the storms that surrounded him.  The Karate Kid demonstrates that each of us is capable of the same serenity, if only we are willing to reach out to God for sustenance. Indeed, with God all things are possible – even calmness in the face of evil (the serpent). 

The film also challenges conventional views of power, much like Christianity does. Throughout the movie, Dre is the underdog, the physically weaker one. In terms of brute strength, he could have easily been classified as the loser. Yet, in the end, he triumphs. Certainly, the image of Christ on the cross is one of undeniable weakness. Yet, through the power of the Resurrection, He emerges as Savior and King. As Scripture states, God’s power is made manifest in weakness. 

Upon reaching home after seeing this inspiring film, I was prompted to recite Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.”   

But what does “soul” mean here?  We’re talking about not only the mind, but the will and our emotions as well. The connection that lies between the mind and the will and the will and the emotions cannot be denied, although the connection may be a new concept to some. It may take some convincing, but we need to believe God’s promises and to embrace them. We need to claim the fact that God can restore our broken emotions, calm our troubled minds, and give us the motivation and drive that we need to establish firm foundations – even when we feel as if our lives are crumbling beneath the weight of our worries.  

After reading Psalm 23, I subsequently listened to an audio lesson from Graham Cooke’s Faith Series. Cooke points out that rejoicing empowers faith and thanksgiving breeds confidence which, in turn, releases trust. We need to recognize the all-powerfulness of God and the fact that, through Him, we can accomplish great things. Cooke also points out that, at the heart of each circumstance, we can find a deeper revelation of Who God is, particularly in that special moment. Each test is designed to help us grow in our relationship with Him.  Because he is reliable, we can find the means of being dependable.   

Following the audio lesson, I had regained my sense of calm and was now filled with hope. I recognized that I still faced challenges, but I also knew that I possessed the internal resilience to overcome my deep sense of helplessness.  In the days that followed, I was no longer grieving. In fact, I was amazed at the transformation that I had experienced in just a short period of time.

This is why films such as The Karate Kid are so vitally important, especially for young audiences. These works of art transport us to different worlds where we can be taught timeless truths.  An inner-city American child may never travel to China, but he can see through Dre’s adventures how he, too, can find the strength to overcome, even in the most trying of circumstances. He can view his life through a different lens, thanks to Dre’s example. And he can discover the power that lies deep inside him, enabling him to defeat his own demons. 

Viewing a movie such as The Karate Kid may seem like such a triviality, especially if there are weighty issues on your mind. But God can speak through any medium, including movies. His voice can be heard in Mr. Han’s words of wisdom…in Dre’s determination…even in the silence of a woman intently focused on the art of tai chi. The Almighty can speak through your emotions as you contemplate the richness and vibrancy of His abiding love – a love which can stretch all the way to China, and to a boy fighting for a sense of purpose.  As I have learned through my own recent experience, with God’s wisdom and relying on His comfort, we can all find the peace that the masters of Kung Fu strive for. 

Sharon Vaz

Sharon Vaz is the author of Sand, Sound and Soul: The Complete Guide to the Unity Sand Ceremony. She has helped thousands of happy couples around the world enjoy the meaning and beauty of the unity sand ceremony via her blog UnitySandCeremony.net.

Share about times  you’ve been filled with encouragement from  unexpected sources.

Diane Markins

“I hate my job” is an oft-heard mantra among people we know. With the economy in the current condition that might be prefaced with “I’m grateful to be working, but…”

If you are unhappy with your current employment a little evaluation might prove useful. Some questions to consider:

• Am I not equipped or properly trained?
• Is my work load unrealistically big?
• Do I have support from superiors and peers?
• What about the job makes me dread walking in each day?
• Are there people I enjoy seeing who are consistently friendly?
• Is there a problem with company policies or ethical dilemmas?
• Do I feel appreciated, validated and affirmed?

Most employers prefer to keep their current staff. It is costly to fire someone, pay unemployment, find a suitable replacement and then train them until they are worth their salary. With that in mind, if you can identify the causes of your misery, an honest chat with the boss might bring about changes you never thought possible. If you can explain the challenges you’re experiencing in clear terms, pointing out that you’d really like to keep your job but need help to do it better, you are actually helping the company succeed.

More training and support are often easy fixes. Reducing work load might be a little trickier unless you can show supportive data that the expectations are unrealistic. A little research might give you the ammo to convey this message.

Most challenging are the human elements. Unappreciative supervisors, unfriendly co-workers and uncooperative colleagues never enhance a workplace. Good communication skills, refusing to participate in gossip or rise to rudeness will help. Sometimes requesting a move to another desk, a later lunch break or to be paired with another partner might be the only options.

With the realization that griping, grouchy people are not happy inside, being intentional about smiling, offering compliments and supportive efforts to begin each day may help set the tone for how people treat you. Be a light in a dark place.

If none of those things work, focus on gratitude that you have a job while seeking a new position. Don’t jump ship until you have a realistic idea that the conditions aren’t even worse than where you’re working now. Surround yourself with things, activities and people you love when you’re not at work. Through it all, pray.

Any job success or horror stories? Advice for those in a “stuck place?” Share below.

Diane Markins

Diane Markins

I need to warn you–I’m not an amateur. No, this is a professional complainer you’re talking to! (Kids, don’t try this at home.)

It was a couple weeks ago, and what a week we were having. Kellie and I were putting in about 20 hours apiece preparing for a family wedding…on top of my work and in addition to having house guests. It was all good–wonderful, even–but it was a lot. That’s when the slide started…

The refrigerator had leaked and started to warp the wood floors the prior week. On Monday, Kellie’s cell phone died. On Tuesday, the dishwasher broke. On Wednesday, we learned that the cat had cancer. By Thursday, I was making new additions to my mental manual of expletives.

When I shared some of my “professional” complaining in our house church that week, one in the group pointed out that Graham Cooke says that “Why?” is a victim question.

Hmm… OK, I can see that possibility. But let me venture a defense for King David in this regard (and myself, of course). We all hit places of disappointment and loss–places where, in our humanity, we feel let down, abandoned even. In that moment, the authentic cry of our hearts is, Why God? And to squelch that cry is to shut down our hearts and truncate authentic relationship with God. Folks, God is a “big boy”–He can take it!

But here’s the crux–an authentic Why leads us into intimacy with God and into His expansive character and purposes. Why must be a transition point; if we live in the Why and get stuck there, then we begin to own the identity of a victim.

Think about it. Every living soul has been a victim. We are victimized by our spiritual enemy, we are victimized by other people, and we victimize ourselves. It’s real. I would contend that it’s not wrong to acknowledge victimization–that this is actually part of the healing process. It’s when victimization becomes part of our self-concept, our identity, then it turns rancid and self-destructive.

§ How do you relate to being victimized? Is it part of your reality or part of your mentality?

§ Are there any changes you want to make in this area?

§ How and when will you make a change?

 Jerome Daley, ACC, DPM, is a Leadership Coach, author of five books on purposeful living, and publisher of the Christian Coaching Magazine. 

Share your whining and thoughts on complaining to God below. Contact Jerome at www.purposecoach.net and www.christiancoachingmag.com.

The Bible is just an abstract collection of stories and platitudes to some people. While they believe it may contain bits of wisdom, it isn’t absolute truth or infallible. Most Christ-followers see it differently, believing this to be the inspired word of God, period. From time to time I come across something I don’t like as I’m reading: God commanding that everyone in a certain region be killed and their property destroyed; a man being told to sacrificially kill his own son (even though he wasn’t forced to go through with it) and some of His laws and expectations about our daily living.

It is hard not to get caught up in culturally contemporary thinking. Why not watch a little bit of nudity in a movie…that’s not porn. As long as two people love each other whom are they hurting if they sleep together without being married? Marijuana is a natural substance like wine…why should I obey the dumb law prohibiting its use? Shouldn’t people have a right to choose the gender of the person they fall in love with, or are intimate with? There are wars, natural disasters and famine all over the world. Does God really expect us to follow these archaic rules about such small things?

The simple answer is yes. We may not like it and we certainly won’t understand it, but our loving creator has designed a master plan…and within that, a microcosm for each of us. Every choice we make alters our path—and the journey of those around us. Reverting to the simple truths we learned as children: Trust, Obey and Receive Blessings.

The Lord doesn’t love us any less when we choose to disobey His words and direction. If we’ve truly given our heart to Him, our salvation is secure. However, we are likely to miss some of the wonderful blessings that were on the path He chose for us. It’s difficult to have true peace when we belong to God, know His ways and still make choices apart from His plan.

Being a follower of Jesus isn’t a selective endeavor…I’ll buy this, but not that. It’s an all-or-nothing venture. Are you in all the way or only willing to accept  parts of the Bible you like and make you feel comfortable? Perhaps it’s time to consider this dangerous (often unpopular) challenge. Then go forward and see how much different your journey is after this decision.

Do you think it’s important to aspire to follow God’s ways and His direction through the Bible? Is it OK to pick some things that seem out-dated and abandon them as obsolete or dogmatic?  Comment below.

Diane Markins

*I’m proud to add “Grandma” to my resume! Noah Jeffrey was born July 12th. Well done and congrats to Jeffrey and Chelsea.

I invited Michele Howe, author of Burdens do a Body Good to write the following guest post. If you’re feeling like God is prompting you to step up and take on a new challenge, don’t fear! If He calls you, He will equip you (…but you have to do your part to prepare).

Always Building and Watching

by Michele Howe

Lately, I’ve been relating a lot to the Old Testament character Nehemiah who felt physically exhausted, emotionally spent, and spiritually opposed

Michele Howe

(and I’m not trying to rebuild a wall…just be faithful to the small stuff God has called me to do). As I read about the circumstances surrounding this unflinching soul who labored long and hard despite opposition from many forces, I am struck by this man’s focus on his objective to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (no matter what). No doubt, Nehemiah, like all of us, caught the glorious vision of restoring what enemies had destroyed for God’s honor and as a testimony of hope for the future of God’s people. When he realized the depth of destruction that had occurred, Nehemiah sat down and wept. Sound familiar? I wonder how many of us have the same reaction to — the national news, our local news, even to daily reports from our closest friends and family?

Of course, the appropriate reaction to any report of injury, loss, and destruction is to sit down and weep. But Nehemiah didn’t stop with the natural reaction; he took the news of the catastrophe and went straight to God. Nehemiah’s bold prayer of faith, of great expectation even, is the kind of prayer I’m offering up to the Lord these days because I know my one and only hope lies in the deliverance that God alone can supply. Reading about the days that followed Nehemiah’s gathering of workers and supplies, I marvel at not only how hard they worked, but how they worked — each one with his weapon in his hand. Nehemiah and his people were always building and watching. In other words, they had a job to do, but they were wise enough to stay on alert to the dangers that always accompany a work of faith (seen and unseen).

Nehemiah, terrific leader that he was, proved himself strong in faith as well as street smarts. He knew instinctively what I often forget. God can call us to a work but it’s up to us to make sure we have our equipment, our supplies, and our weapons at the ready because opposition is always lurking just outside our line of vision. For me, when I have a job to do, my best work (for God) comes only after I’ve counted the cost and prepared for the task at hand. For all of us, preparation comes in many guises…and there’ll be a price to pay, a burden we willingly take on, and sacrifices we’ll gladly make the moment God calls us. And yet, we can only complete the job with God’s sovereign intervention. He puts the burden upon our heart to accomplish for Him something we can only do through Him…and each step of the way, with our hand upon our weapon (of faith), He gives us the gift of conscious reliance upon His moment by moment provision. We’re only truly suited for serving well when we truly understand the depth of our dependence upon Him.

Are you holding back because you’re afraid you’ll fall down? Do you rush into new tasks relying solely on your own power and skill? Has there been a time you know that God’s ability was what fueled your success? Share below.

Diane Markins

Check out (and order) Burden’s Do a Body Good here.

While visiting Boston last fall and touring the Freedom Trail, I saw some physical evidence—lasting remnants—of the history of our country. Reading history books and learning about the sacrifices it took to bring about a revolution doesn’t compare to standing near the graves of people who lived and died there.

The Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4^th, 1776. It was, in fact, intended to be a long list of gripes and grievances against Britain. It made clear the demands of those who had lost property and lives to obtain liberation and rights. It was mostly about liberty and fairness. Issues like “taxation without representation” were prominent on the list.

All this can become terminally boring and irrelevant if we let it. It seems like a work of fiction from a far-off land. The fact is, it wasn’t really that long ago or far away. And it certainly isn’t fiction. Many brave people lost their considerable wealth, lost loved ones and even their own lives as they endeavored to set the standard of freedom for future generations.

As we grill burgers, watch elaborate fireworks shows and take a dip in the pool, perhaps it isn’t too much to sacrifice a moment to remember those who went before us. Share a little American Revolution trivia over the home-made ice cream. Say thank you to the God whom those brave men and women served, and who answered their prayers. This is clearly evidenced by the many freedoms each of us enjoys every day in the United States. God Bless America! I’m humbly and deeply grateful to be one of her truly free citizens.

Are you patriotic? Do you ever stop to think about the sacrifices others have made so that you can live life as you please? What can we do to help future generations of children understand, respect and appreciate their American history? Comment below at Words In High blog.

Diane Markins