From Our Pastor’s Husband:
When Pastor Lorraine first asked me to write this month's newsletter article I was at first a little reluctant. After I thought about it for awhile I agreed.
Over the past several months I have had a lot of time to think about the things that are currently happening in our world. The United States is fighting two wars. Our economy is in the dumpster or maybe I should say: the economy is currently trying to climb out of the dumpster because of the greed of our banking system, Wall Street high rollers, and an oversight government program that do not work. Our health care system is the most expensive in the world and we as a nation have a very high percentage of the population that have no access to insurance or health care.
Our homeless population continues to grow in proportion to our unemployment rate which continues to raise. Drug usage is on the increase and there seems to be a border war between the Mexican cartels and US Border Patrol. A few days ago, 11 Russian spies in deep cover, were arrested across the Northeast of our country with further arrests expected in the near future. I thought the cold war was over!
That's not the half of it: You turn on your television and you find our congress fighting over issues which seem to be like the fights and arguments we had in the backyard with the kid next door, on whether he was out at second base on a throw that hit him in the chest and was caught on the rebound. Just today I heard that the congress was arguing over who should pay the cost of the new Wall street legislation and one of the parties wanted the bill changed so that the Wall streeters would not have to cover the cost of the new watchdog agency. It all seems crazy to me.
Are we really doing what our forbearers asked us to do? Are we truly a free nation when so many people are suffering because of the color of their skin, their nationality, their differences from the majority, their psychological status, or their religious beliefs? Are we truly Christian when we support positions that are in direct conflict with Jesus' order to us:
"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Here comes the tough questions:
Are you truly a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Is there anything in your life that brings you to ask this question about yourself?
Have you found that there are certain areas of your life that are in direct conflict with the new commandment from Jesus?
As you sit alone is there a sense of guilt and condemnation that brings pain into your life because of what you have said or done, something that you cannot change which has brought pain to someone else?
Do you feel anxious when you see that person? Do you feel ashamed?
Jesus has given us the answer and cure for all of the above questions and the pain that we feel. "Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." When our lives are filled with the love of Jesus we find ourselves feeling his presence with us all day every day. Imagine what our congress would be like if our representatives and senators followed this simple commandment. Imagine how war would no longer exist. There would be no problems on our borders. We could bring all of our troops home and there would be no more sons or daughters lost to the hatred of one for the other because there would be no hatred in the world anymore. There is one other thing that would spring into existence if we follow this simple commandment and that is PEACE.
Remember: Keep looking up for Jesus is coming soon!
Pastor Ken
I AM YOUR FLAG
By: Marine Master Sergeant Percy Webb
I am your flag. I was born June 14, 1777. I am more than just cloth shaped into a design.
I am the refuge of the World's oppressed people. I am the silent sentinel of freedom.
I am the emblem of the greatest sovereign nation on earth.
I am the inspiration for which American Patriots gave their lives and fortunes.
I have led your sons into battle from Valley Forge to the dense jungles of Vietnam and the deserts of Afghanistan and Iraq.
I walk in silence with each of your honored dead
to their final resting place beneath the silent white crosses - row upon row.
I have flown through peace and war; strife and prosperity; and amidst it all, I have been respected.
I am your flag.
My red stripes... symbolize the blood spilled in defense of this glorious nation.
My white stripes... signify the yearning tears shed by Americans
who lost their sons and daughters.
My blue field is indicative of God's heaven, under which I fly.
My stars, clustered together, unify fifty states as one, for God and Country.
"Old Glory" is my nickname, and I proudly wave on high.
Honor me, respect me, defend me with your lives and your fortunes.
Never let my enemies tear me down from my lofty position, lest I never return.
Keep alight the fires of patriotism; strive earnestly for the spirit of Democracy.
Worship Eternal God, and keep his commandments;
and I shall remain the bulwark of peace and freedom for all mankind.
I AM YOUR FLAG!