The 4th of July fell on a Wednesday this year which conflicts with the night we have our youth group meetings. Being a believer that church, especially youth meetings (the only part of church I have influence upon) should never be cancelled, we decided to meet anyway. Some churches cancel youth meetings for the entire summer which blows my mind! The kids are finally free from school responsibilities and have little or nothing to do, and some think that we should remove church influence from their lives for three months of idleness? Sorry for chasing that rabbit as my grandmother would say. Point being: we had our youth meeting at our house with roasted weenies instead of cancelling.
Our group had just returned from their trip to Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters in Andrews, North Carolina. It was an amazing trip for the thirteen teenagers and three adult chaperones who participated. Strangely enough, only three of the teenagers from the trip showed up last night........rant for another day. While researching a lesson appropriate for the occasion, I found a video from the Skit Guys where they quoted Alexis de Tocqueville who visited the United States 55 years after 1776 to research the source of America's greatness. Doing some very brief research on the source of the Skit Guys' quote, I found something shocking in Mr. de Tocqueville's observation. An excerpt is found below:
- I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of America in her harbors...; in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution.
Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.
America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.
The safeguard of morality is religion, and morality is the best security of law as well as the surest pledge of freedom.
Another striking aspect of the day was a full page ad in the newspaper placed there by Hobby Lobby that reminds us of the foundation of our nation and the beliefs of those founding fathers. I've long argued for the separation of church and state, but am beginning to question the direction of our country. It's funny how de Tocqueville spoke of this too:
- In France I had almost always seen the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom marching in opposite directions. But in America I found they were intimately united and that they reigned in common over the same country.
We are drowning in free speech thanks to Facebook. Talk about TMI............I did not want to know how many women openly disrespect their husbands, and I am saddened by this revelation. One of my favorite Biblical descriptions is that of The Wife of Noble Character found in Proverbs 31:
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
So, maybe my revelations are disjointed. At the end of the day, it seemed that something has been lost in our definition of freedom over the last 236 years. We love to brag about our free nation, but what is that freedom providing for us today? Are our churches still thought by ANYONE to be the source of our strength? Are we as Christians showing that we are any different than non-believers?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
So, maybe my revelations are disjointed. At the end of the day, it seemed that something has been lost in our definition of freedom over the last 236 years. We love to brag about our free nation, but what is that freedom providing for us today? Are our churches still thought by ANYONE to be the source of our strength? Are we as Christians showing that we are any different than non-believers?
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