That may have brought a grin to your face. It probably also brought a grimace. The sad truth is many (not all) politicians don’t care about truth, the Constitution, or principles of character.

I can criticize corrupt politicians. So far, along with you, I have the right to assemble and to speak freely, even if our politicians don’t like it. This is the major check and balance that the Founding Fathers understood.

Here is the bigger problem. The leaders we select are a mirror of our culture. They are really our REPRESENTATIVES. If we are a godly people, we will elect godly leaders. If we are ungodly and corrupt. . . .

God said:

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34 (ESV)

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Proverbs 29.2 (KJV)

Part of the solution to political corruption is to be a nation with godly character. This can only occur one person at a time. If you and I determine to be better people, by the grace of God we will become a nation who walks closely to the words of God. We, in turn, elect leaders who lead by principle, not by “pork.”

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

George Washington is my favorite American. At the battle of Monongahela, he was an officer fighting with the British against the French and Indians. The British and their Virginian allies lost this battle to inferior forces. The greatest army in the world broke rank and fled from the field in panic.

Washington had horses shot from beneath him during the battle. He later found at least four bullet holes in his uniform – but had no wounds. The Indians (and some of his comrades) believed that God had protected him and that he “could not die in battle.”

Later, he would reflect on Providence. He also reflected on the fact that the British army could be beaten. This is something that had been unimaginable to him heretofore.

The lessons would accompany him into our War for Independence. The Continental Army, under the leadership of George Washington, defeated the British and established the greatest nation in modern history. He, along with other Founders attributed this monumental accomplishment to the providential hand of God.

Perhaps if the British had won the Battle of Monongahela Washington would not have seen the possibility. His trials brought a nation from oppressive slavery to freedom. When it was all said and done, the trials – all of them – brought incredible joy to countless people.

What trials are you facing? There is discomfort (or it wouldn’t be a trial). There is also a blessing hidden within it. Our task is to learn and do.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

When the Jews returned from Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem, the temple, and their religious practices they got off track. They started well, but soon they stopped building for God and started building for themselves. Their economy went into a tailspin.

In the little book of Haggai, God declares:

Consider your ways. ⁶ You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes (1.5-6).

Does this sound familiar? Gas is supposed to be $5 per gallon soon. This will force increased costs in other industries. We are earning wages that seem to go into a bag with holes in it.

The answer to the problem does not lie only in our political system. It lies in the original foundation of the nation. As a nation, GOD was our foundation in the beginning. We have elected poor leadership for our country and gotten off track because we have left God out of the picture and made it all about US.

Do you want to improve the country? Do you want to make it a better place for our children and grandchildren? The answer begins with each of us determining to live with GOD as the center of our lives. Just as Israel of old, when we honor God, He will honor us.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

“The highest glory of the American Revolution was this; it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.”

“From the day of the Declaration…they (the American people) were bound by the laws of God, which they all, and by the laws of The Gospel, which they nearly all, acknowledge as the rules of their conduct.”

Adams, as other Founders, saw Americans as a people to put the laws of God into practice on every level within the newly formed country. America was not just a land of opportunity or Liberty. It was a nation that based its existence on the Word of God. Its teachings were to be the standards of conduct within the land.

The Founders knew that “righteousness exalts a nation” (Proverbs 14:34). They knew that the Constitution was not suited for people with no standards for their behavior. They knew that the only “separation of church and state” was that of keeping the government out of the affairs of the churches.

We are seeing numerous erosions of the founding principles of our nation. As a nation, we have chosen economy over spirituality. If we choose spirituality, we would have both. Since we choose money over God, we have neither. Can we see the wisdom of our Founders?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

How much impact would you say Christianity has on America today? Millions of Americans claim to be Christians but is it real or just lip service? American Christians have allowed biblical morality to decay within our nation. We have allowed abortion on demand and same-sex marriages because we have been quiet.

We can make a difference if we vote our biblical values. About 75% of American Christians have not registered to vote or do not take the time to make their voices heard. Founder, Samuel Adams once stated that he believed we would be accountable to God for how we vote.

Samuel’s cousin, John Adams stated, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” If we ignore God, his word, his standards, and sit idly by why should he bless us?

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ I want to encourage you to be involved in the restoring of our nation. You can:

•          Pray to God (2 Chronicles 7:14)
•          Speak Up in God’s Name (Colossians 3:17)
•          Act (including voting) for God’s Standards (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Do you see ANY problems with this? Has the city of San Juan Capistrano overstepped its bounds? Are the people of the community restricted from practicing freedom of religion? Where does the Constitution limit Christian activity to a church building? If this is an issue of frequency or the size of the crowd, should that not be the regulation rather than restricting a “religious” organization? “At the same time that our government is singling out homosexual groups for special protection (under the guise of civil rights) it is also singling out religious groups for special discrimination!

Isn’t it interesting that when the church began, people met in public places like the temple in Jerusalem as well as in houses (Acts 2:46)? In addition to eating meals together, they taught the bible in homes (Acts 20:20). Those early believers treated their homes as “small temples” in which they would honor God with worship, prayer, and study.

Have you ever heard people say, “That could never happen in America (or Oklahoma)? Well, it IS happening in America. What is to prevent such governmental actions in our state or other parts of the country?

The answer is – WE THE PEOPLE. We are the keys to stopping unconstitutional government activities. We must let our voices be heard in our Capitols, both state and federal. We must demand Constitutional compliance. If we do not, Christian silence will have no voice.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on September 10, 2001? You probably do not. You may, however, vividly remember where you were when you heard the news about the destruction of the Twin Towers on September 11. We stand on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the destruction of the Towers and the murders of innocent people. We haven’t forgotten the attack on America, nor shall we any time soon.

Perhaps a decade ago you felt fear. Maybe you felt anger. Maybe you felt frustration – or any combination of emotions. Maybe you are reliving some of those emotions this weekend.

The Bible gives us some “911 Passages” to help us in trying times. Please consider the following:

• Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all. Ecclesiastes 9.11

• ¹He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
  will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91.1

• ¹¹Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion!
  Tell among the peoples his deeds! Psalm 9.11

The circumstances of life come to all of us. Yet, we find shelter in the presence of God. We honor Him by telling of His mighty works.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

South Yukon Church of Christ

Did you hear that Texas Governor, Rick Perry called for a day of fasting and prayer for his state and the country? Over 32,000 gathered in Reliant Stadium in Houston to participate in the special event with the Governor. What a declaration of dependence!

Of course, as you can imagine, protestors opposed the event. Many stood outside the arena to voice their opposition to “a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence” (see the Declaration of Independence, 1776, for the full quote). They know that if Christians have their way there God will rule instead of “every man doing what is right in his own eyes.”

Governor Perry reminds us of what our Founders knew. We are a people who are dependent on God. There are standards to live by (John 14:6; 12:48). There are consequences to abusing those standards (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).

By the year 1815 state and federal governments had issued over 1400 calls to prayer. Thomas Jefferson, whom many vilify in regard to Christian virtue, called Virginia to prayer more than once.

America is in a mess. Our economy is bad. Our morals are in decline. Our integrity is low. The answer is not in voting for the “right” politician or party. The answer is in returning to our foundation – the word and will of God. Stand up for America by bowing to God!

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

South Yukon Church of Christ

John Adams (who was to become our first Vice President and second President) developed a friendship with Dr. Benjamin Rush (a leading educator; the “Father of American Medicine,” he also began the Sunday School movement in America). Early in the Revolution, during a meeting of the Continental Congress, Dr. Rush asked Mr. Adams, “John, do you really think we can overcome Great Britain in this struggle?” Adams responded, “Yes we can, if we fear God and repent of our sins.”

I hear a lot today about our rights as Americans. MY free speech; MY right to bear arms; MY, MY, MY. I don’t hear much about fearing God and repenting of our sins. I don’t hear much about getting back to the foundation of America for which our Founders were willing to sacrifice. That foundation was God in every aspect of life.

This is why Dr. Rush and others established Bible societies. This is why the BIBLE was taught in our PUBLIC schools. This was actually the reason we had public schools.

July 4 should be more than a day off. It is a good time to read the Declaration of Independence. It is a time time to visualize the struggle for our freedom.

Let us appreciate what those patriots sacrificed to give us. Then take up the mantle of freedom in God for this generation.

Keep The Light Burning!
Perry Greene
Preaching Minister
South Yukon
Church of Christ

The small group of about 200 Texans withstood the siege of Santa Anna and his vast Mexican army – to the end. Great names come to mind – Crockett, Travis, Bowie are the better known. Each man who took a place in those ranks is no less a hero.

Weather permitting, I will fly the flag of Texas independence on Sunday, March 6, to mark the anniversary of the fall of the Alamo. I want to remember the men who paid the ultimate price for the cause in which they believed. In April, a few days later, Texas finally achieved her independence at San Jacinto – thanks in part to the sacrifice of those brave men at the Alamo.

Do you have a cause to which you are that committed? Jesus laid down his life for all of us (Romans 5:8). The apostle Paul committed to that same cause his life and his death (2 Timothy 4.6-8). It is the cause of ultimate freedom (John 8:31-32) and life (John 10:10). For what are you willing to give your all?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Pulpit Minister

South Yukon Church of Christ

The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization  composed of veterans of the Union Army, Navy, and Marine Corps who had served in the American Civil War. It was founded on the principles of “Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty” in Decatur, Illinois on April 6, 1866. It was inclusive of Blacks and Whites who had fought together for the Union cause.

This organization of Union Veterans became the most powerful political arm of the Republican Party and grew during the latter part of the 19th century. It helped elect several United States presidents, beginning with U.S. Grant and ending with William McKinley. Five members of the GAR were elected to the presidency. For a time, it was impossible to be nominated on the Republican ticket without the endorsement of the GAR.

What if American Veterans organized into a strong political base like the GAR of long ago? Do you think there might be a resurgence of Patriotism? Do you think there would be more Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty in our country? Do you think these patriots would demand that out political leaders really defend the Constitution? Veterans took that oath as do our political leaders. The difference between them and the politician is the veteran literally put his life on the line, not just his political life.

I believe it would be a different country if a GAR-type organization held our politicians accountable along with the rest of us. The flag would be saluted. Our true history would be remembered and taught. American Exceptionalism would be reclaimed. Above all, God would ultimately be honored for He is the Foundation of our Republic.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Sam believed in American independence and took up arms against the British. On April 19, 1775 the 80 year old warrior joined the Minutemen to attack the British on their retreat to Boston following the battles of Lexington and Concord. He chose a strategic spot on the road and at just the right time fired his musket into the British line. He then fired two pistols at the soldiers and then wielded his old saber against the Redcoats. After inflicting casualties, he was wounded and beaten by the British and left for dead.

Following the conflict Sam’s neighbors came to tend the wounded. They found him not only alive, but trying to reload his musket! They brought him to the doctor, who gave them no hope of survival. To everyone’s surprise, Sam did survive and lived another 13 years!

We might question Sam’s tactical judgment but we can never question his courage or his patriotism! You know veterans of the same caliber as Mr. Whittemore. It is because of these bold patriots that we enjoy God’s liberties! Thank a Veteran for serving!

Keep The Light Burning!

Dr. Perry Greene

http://perrysscope.com

One of the personal stories that caught my attention last night was that of Marco Rubio. He was elected to the U. S. Senate by Floridians. In his victory speech he mentioned that he was the “son of exiles” from Cuba. What a great American success story! This IS the place where extraordinary things can happen!

I am reminded by his words that we too are children of exiles. Our parents, Adam and Eve, were exiled from the Garden of Eden. In their case, it was their own sin that led them away from the tree of life. Yet, God provided a way to bring us back.

Jesus is the “way, the truth, the life” who leads us back to the Father (John 14:6). Jesus is the source of the extraordinary in our lives. Jesus is the key to real success in our lives (Matthew 22:34-40).

Marco Rubio and his family may never get back home to Cuba. Unless dramatic changes occur there, they may not want to go. We can, however, “go home” to God. Jesus made that possible for us. In a little while, our exile will be over and we can enjoy the eternal presence of our God (see Revelation 22)!

Keep The Light Burning!

Dr. Perry Greene

perrysscope.com

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,” (Declaration of Independence, emphasis added).

As I read these words, I see a key biblical principle. Governments are to rule by the consent of the governed because God does.

God is the Creator and King of the Universe. However, He gives us free will. He wants us to choose his rule and thereby governs us by consent (Joshua 24:14-15). He does not force Himself on us and will allow us to walk away (John 6:66-67). Of course the real irony is that there is nowhere else to go (John 6:68; Matthew 7:13-14).

How have you enjoyed removing God from our classrooms and other public places? Has our education level risen or fallen without Him? He won’t force his way in, but will allow us to reap the consequences of our choices.

It is a shame to see how far we have gone from God in our country. No longer can we legally pray in public gatherings. We are not supposed to speak freely in our churches about governmental issues. This was not the intention of the Founders. We must work to put God back at the core of our nation.

When you vote Tuesday, vote your Christian values. Vote for the people who will uphold the words of God in our government. Consent to be governed – by God!

Keep The Light Burning!

Dr. Perry Greene

Then it hit me. That is EXACTLY what the Founding Fathers intended for our education system. They knew the power of knowledge. They knew that America was established, as Patrick Henry said, “not on religionists, but by Christians; not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.” America was to be a FREE country and it was to be a CHRISTIAN nation. People needed to be able to read so they could study the Bible.

I read that Connecticut once passed a law for their citizens where the authorities would send inspectors to each home in their state. The inspectors would test the children in each household to be sure they could read at the level they were supposed to. If not, the parents were fined. What was their reasoning? They knew that legislators need accountability. They determined that if the people could read, they would be able to read the laws that were being passed by Congress. If those laws did not match the Bible, the people could protest and have the laws removed.

The New England Primer used the Bible to teach children to read and write. It was written in 1690 and used in one form or another until the early twentieth century. The children learned stories and doctrines from the Bible at an early age. Some were so adept at learning that they were able to enter schools like Harvard and Yale (once Christian schools) while in their early teens!

How far from our moorings we have drifted as a nation! How amazing the wisdom of our ancestors! How can WE get back on track?

Beginning where we are, we must make a more concerted effort to learn and to learn. Most importantly, we must learn the word of God from Genesis to Revelation. We must see His hand in the history of the world and our country. America did not happen by accident. Even men like George Washington realized that Providence established the nation, not the military or political skills of the citizens (see also Zechariah 4:6).

Turn off the TV and slow down. Take time to read the Bible daily. In the words of Jesus, “Could you not tarry one hour?” Knowing the Bible will make all the difference on all the levels!

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

While watching “Patton,” I thought about one of the great differences between America and so many other nations of the world. History has shown that nations rise and conquer. They subdue the defeated and rule them. Not so with America!

As we marched through North Africa, then into Sicily, then into Italy, we did not fight to rule the citizens, we came to free them. We LIBERATED Europe and Asia in the Second World War. How thrilling it must have been for our service personnel to have driven away the enemy and restored freedom to a town. It must have been sobering to liberate concentration camps and see the absolute epitome of “man’s inhumanity to man.”

We hear about how arrogant America has been in our history. We hear apologies for our role in world history. Certainly we are not perfect, there is only One is. But for all of our shortcomings, we have been a servant to the world.

How many applications are there through our history! Since the USA was founded on biblical principles, it is evident that so much of who we are and what we do comes from the Book. The spiritual qualities of sacrifice and freedom fill its pages.

Think of God bringing deliverance to the Hebrews as they were enslaved in Egypt. Think of Jesus’ coming to lay down his life for his friends and his enemies (John 15:13-15; Romans 5:8). Think of the words of Christ ringing the sound of freedom from spiritual oppression for us (John 8:32). Think of the path of freedom that Jesus has laid out for us (John 14:6)

Freedom comes at a high price. It cost our American Founders their “lives, fortunes, and sacred honor.” Our spiritual freedom cost the life of the Son of God.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

So begins Longfellow’s poem of Paul Revere’s famous ride to warn of the coming British. In particular, the Redcoats were after John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Revere’s ride was primarily to warn them. He did so, finding them asleep at the home of Minister, Jonas Clarke, he informed them of the British intentions.

Along the way, he warned other colonists of the British advance. Before the evening was over, there were upwards of forty messengers sounding the alarm. This included William Dawes, who appeared at the Clarke parsonage repeating the same warning.

Revere and other messengers headed for Concord. The British were not easily evaded and three of them were detained. Two escaped, but Revere was interrogated by an officer who held and gun to his head and threatened his life. The next day he was able to escape and went on foot to help Hancock and his family escape.

There are some spiritual lessons for us in this great tale of courage. First, there is the concentration of an important task. This ride may not have seemed that significant to Paul Revere and the others. They may have thought that it was a job that needed to be done and they were willing hands. In retrospect, of course, what Revere, Dawes, Prescott and others did was risky and of great significance to the cause of freedom.

Second, mission is infectious. As the initial riders went through the countryside sounding the alarm of the approaching British, other patriots joined the cause and rode with the same warnings. It is too bad that Al Gore had not yet invented the internet or Bell the telephone. Either would have made things much quicker.

Third, there is the matter of seeing a task completed. Revere was captured, interrogated, intimidated, and escaped. Many of us would have found the quickest way home and gone. Our famous silversmith did the honorable thing. He went back to where he could best serve the cause and helped the people he came to warn.

Jesus lived out these lessons and impacted the believers of the eighteenth century. Jesus came with a job to do – the will of his Father (John 4:34). He intended that we all catch the vision he presented and share the message of both warning and good news (Matthew 28.18-20). He made sure that he completed the task that was set before him (John 19:30).

Paul Revere and the patriots of old are heroes. They risked life and property for the American cause. In doing so, they imitated some of the great qualities of the Son of God. Perhaps a reason that they did so was because they spent great amounts of time coming to know him.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

In 2003, Popaditch’s unit helped topple the Saddam Hussein statue in Baghdad’s Firdos Square. He was awarded the Silver Star for combat action in Fallujah after he was hit in the head by a rocket-propelled grenade and blinded in one eye on April 7, 2004, during Operation Vigilant Resolve. The blast left him with only eight percent vision in his other eye. A proud Marine, Popaditch now sports a prosthetic eye emblazoned with the Marine Corps’ eagle, globe and anchor logo.

I have to say that I am impressed with America’s Patriots. Popaditch and others have put themselves in harm’s way for the cause of Freedom and the safety of America. Unlike the Vietnam days, Americans tend to appreciate these veterans and their sacrifices. Maybe we are realizing that the cost of Freedom is high for each generation.

It is too bad that so many of our politicians can’t see what Sgt. Popaditch can in spite of his vision impairments. He knows the value of America to the world. He knows that if America goes down the hope for freedom will be lost to countless peoples all over the world. America has to stay strong. America has to follow its Constitution. America has to resolve to be the people our Founders intended for us to be.

If you read the original writings of the Founders you will see a great emphasis on character. I personally do not believe that they intended for Americans to check their character at the door of the Capitol or the Oval Office and resort to deceptive behavior as our current Administration does.

John Jay, America’s first Supreme Court Chief Justice said, “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”

Patrick Henry stated, “Bad men cannot make good citizens. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience are incompatible with freedom.”

Thomas Jefferson (yes, Thomas Jefferson) said, “The only foundation for useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion.”

The Founders knew that only GOOD PEOPLE can lead a GOOD NATION.

“Gunny Pop,” good luck in your quest for a Congressional seat. We need dedicated patriots to lead our country. Certainly the Marine Corps (pronounced as ‘core’ not ‘corpse’) emphasizes honor and integrity as they develop quality citizens.

Why leave it up just to “the Corps”? Isn’t this a call for ALL Americans? Shouldn’t we All develop integrity? Shouldn’t we all base our actions on a code that is higher and greater than we? Isn’t this where the word of God impacts our lives and our way of life (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

The man said, “Years have passed and no one talks much about it anymore, but I still hear that train whistle in my sleep. I can still hear them crying out for help. God, forgive us who called ourselves Christians yet did nothing to intervene. Now, so many years later, I see it happening all over again in America. The response is the same as it was in my country – silence.”

Dietrich Bonheoffer, a Pastor in WWII Germany said, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us that there is a time for everything. There is a time to shut up and a time to speak up. In this time of active national Socialism, American Christians are in a unique position to speak up for God and America. If we do not, we are guilty of taking the nation down.

The Hebrew Bible reminds us that silence is consent. A possible translation for Leviticus 19:16 is, “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.” God has expected his people to take a stand when necessary. The watchman of Ezekiel 33 would be guilty of the blood of his people if he failed to sound the alarm. His silence was consent to the enemy.

Martin Niemoller was attributed with saying, “First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.”

Who will stand up for America if we don’t? Who will stand up for the gospel if we don’t? Who will sound the alarm if not us?

FDR was correct when he said, “Americans would rather die on their feet than live on their knees.” The only one to whom I want to bow the knee is to our God, the Giver of Liberty. Let us stand against those who would seek to take the blessings of God from our children.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Did you know that the US Constitution does not authorize lifetime appointments for Federal Judges? According to Article III, Section 1 they are to” hold their offices during good behavior.” There are accounts of Judges who were impeached for being drunk or using profanity in their courts. These were not examples of good behavior for American citizens.

God does not separate conduct and character. They go hand in hand. Jesus reminds us that it is the heart of a man that makes him unclean, not the foods that go into him (Matthew 15:11).

This is why the “first and greatest commandment” is so important. We are to love God with all of our hearts, soul, and might (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Matthew 22:37). This is not only inward, it is outward.

As we enter this New Year and new decade, let us resolve to work out what is within (Philippians 2:12). Let us resolve to “shine like stars” (Philippians 2:15). Let us resolve to do this, not only through knowledge of the scriptures, but in displaying it in our lives as well.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Deeply discouraged, Dr. Rush returned to the Continental Congress, sat down by his friend, Adams, and asked, “John, do you think we can win this war?” Adams’ reply was remarkable. He said, “Yes, if we fear God and repent of our sins.” He put the Revolution on a spiritual level, not merely a physical one.

Our Founders believed that they were establishing a Christian nation. They believed America would be like the “city set on a hill” that would point nations to God. They dedicated themselves to spiritual principles which are found in the pages of the Bible. As a result, we did win the War and America prospered.

You and I face all kinds of battles in our lives. Can we win? Certainly – If we fear God and repent of our sins! What we are engaged in goes beyond church programming. It goes beyond physical concerns. It rests in the spiritual.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Having said that, let me remind us of Jesus statement in John 8:32, “You shall know the TRUTH and the truth shall make you free.” One thing that jumps out at me about this statement is not only the need for truth, but that we must KNOW it. Truth is always there, but if we are unaware of it, it does little good.

Americans are waking up to the anti-American behavior of some of our political leaders. The truth has been there, we just did not see it. Now we do. Now we are acting.

The same is true about our God. He is always here. We may be unaware, but He is here. Once we “get it,” all manner of life changes because we learn His truths and HE frees us.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

PFC Amber Bahr is an American hero! During the shooting at Ft. Hood, Texas she managed to put a tourniquet on a wounded soldier. She then helped him and others to safety. After caring for some of the shooting victims, she discovered that she also had been shot.

Selfless spirit is one of the most commendable qualities we can see in an individual. This spirit has caused members of our military to act in heroic ways on the battlefield. The results of their actions have saved lives and brought Congressional Medals of Honor. Sometimes the heroes on the battlefield have made the ultimate sacrifice for their “battle buddies” and us.

In John 15:13, Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.” He certainly laid down his life for his friends (i.e., his disciples). He went even further, Jesus laid down his life for his enemies. This is why he could pray, “Father, forgive them” for the Jews and the Romans as he hung on the cross.

Through Jesus, God went even further than those people who were literally killing his son. Hear Paul, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Before we get too high and mighty, we need to remember that WE are as guilty of crucifying Jesus as Pilate or Caiaphas.

PFC Bahr and others display the same kind of selfless spirit as Jesus. The willingness to put oneself in danger for the sake of others is admirable. Amber showed it at a Cavalry post; Jesus at Calvary.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

When the men from the SUVCW met Mr. Cox, we eagerly listened to the stories he told of his father’s exploits. He had marched with Sherman. He had been captured and survived Andersonville!. After the War he brought his family to Oklahoma.

As I reflect on the encounter I think of the term, “Real Son.” Then I think of the privilege we have, not in being a real son or daughter of a Civil War soldier, but of the God of Heaven! Paul says that God treats us as sons (children). When you have time, read some of these key passages: Romans 8:12-17; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Galatians 6:23-29; Galatians 4:1-7; Ephesians 1:3-10; and 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11.

God has given us such a privilege to be his “REAL Sons and Daughters!” How does that impact us? The SUVCW heard Mr. Cox recount tales of his father and the Union Army with pride. Do we Christians tell with pride of our Father? Do we tell of the exploits of His Army?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

The American Founders believed that each generation should pay its own debts. What a novel idea! “Pay as you go” and “live within your means.” It is unethical and sinful to saddle someone else with our debts.  Their attitude reflected a Christian understanding of scripture and a respect for the Creator.

One of the major differences between Christianity and our political world is the willingness to sacrifice for others.  It is the “Greater love” of which Jesus spoke. Christians would rather suffer now so their children won’t have to suffer later. The ungodly prefer letting the next generation suffer so long as they don’t have to. Their motto is “No Pain, No Pain.”

The thing that those living away from God miss is that “payday” will come. Somebody is going to pay someday. It is just a matter of when (see Ecclesiastes 8:11).

The justice of God demanded payment for sin. Payday came at the cross. Jesus stepped up and made the payment for us. He suffered then so we would not have to suffer later.

What implications do you see for us?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

• Militarily: The Brilliance of General Washington and the help he got from the French;
• Division in British Army (bickering), and
• Luck -”

Cornwallis chose Yorktown because it was good ground for battle and it was the only place where the James River was narrow enough that if he needed to retreat he could cross.  When he learned that Washington and his troops were coming up from the South, he sent for reinforcements from New York but they were late in coming.

When the battle began, Cornwallis was hammered and knew he needed to retreat.  He thought that during the night he would evacuate his troops across the James River.  The first wave got across then a fierce storm came up and the wind blew so hard that the boats could not get back across the river to rescue any more British troops.

Cornwallis had no recourse but to surrender.  The guide called it ‘Luck’ but George Washington a few days later called it the ‘providence of God.’

¹⁰The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
   he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
¹¹ The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
   the plans of his heart to all generations. Psalm 33.10-11

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

In a desperate attempt to escape, Washington gathered every available vessel, including row boats and began to row his 8000 troops to the mainland.  When morning came, however, there were still large numbers of troops dangerously exposed to the British.

Major Ben Talmage, Washington’s Chief of Intelligence wrote, “At the dawn of the next day, those of us who remained in the trenches became very anxious for our own safety.  At this time, a very dense fog began to rise out of the river and it seemed it seemed to settle in a peculiar manner over both encampments.  I recollect this peculiar providential occurrence perfectly well.  So dense was the atmosphere that I could scarcely discern a man at 6 yards’ distance.”

The fog was so dense that the British could not attack and General Washington was able to evacuate all of his troops.  Never again did the British have such a rare chance to destroy the Continental Army. What a “coincidence!”

Harry Truman probably made as many important decisions regarding our nation’s history as any of the other 42 Presidents.  However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.

Historians have written that the only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence, Missouri.   On top of that, his wife inherited  the house from her Mother.

When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a  year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an ‘allowance’ and later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year.

After President  Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by  themselves.  There were no Secret Service agents following  them.

When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, ‘You don’t want me.  You want the office of the President, and that doesn’t belong to me.  It belongs to the American people and it’s not for sale.’

Even later, on May 6, 1971,  when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th  birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, ‘I don’t consider that I  have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise.’

He never owned his own home and as  President he paid for all of his own travel expenses and  food.

Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today,  many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale.

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, ‘My choices early in life were either to
be a piano player in a whore  house or a politician.  And to tell the truth, there’s hardly any difference.’

I was not there. I do not know the content of his message. I am guessing that he used the Bible to show that homosexuality is a sin (1 Corinthians 6:9). That now constitutes “hate” in the minds of many homosexuals or sympathizers. It has become “politically incorrect” to oppose homosexuality in any form.

Wait a minute! Saying something is a sin does not mean hate. In fact, it means quite the opposite. God so loved the word that he sent his one and only son – to save it (John 3:16-17). In his ministry, Jesus did not hesitate to point out sin. He told the woman caught in adultery to “sin no more” (John 8:11). Did he hate her? No, he loved her. In fact, he loved her so much he told her to stop doing wrong.

Wait another minute! Do you find it interesting that no one speaks out for the adulterers? Who is standing up for the idolaters? Isn’t speaking out against those actions hateful, too? Most Christians would say the actions of Governor Mark Sanford (or President Bill Clinton) were sinful. That is politically correct, especially for his opponents so that one slides by.

I wonder what “hate speech” would look like in other eras. What would have been “politically incorrect” in the Colonies before the Revolution? One probably could not quote 1 Timothy 2.1-7 where Paul urges respect for the King. How about during the Civil War in the North? Ephesians 6:5-9 tells slaves to obey their masters – what would the Abolitionists have done to those preachers? In the South Romans 13:1-2 and submission to ruling powers would not have been popular. In World War II the Nazis would not like to have admitted that Christians are grafted into the same tree as Jews (Romans 11:11-24). Americans may have found it difficult to “love their enemies and pray for them” (Matthew 5:43-48). On and on we can go.

There is a dangerous trend brewing in America. While we certainly do not advocate hate, we need to be very tolerant with our privilege of Free Speech. We need to be very careful to allow people freedom to practice their religious beliefs. Speaking out against sin is far different than condemning a sinner. That is not our right or place (Matthew 7:1). We may recognize sin – and sinners (we only have to look in the mirror) but our mission is to teach, to love, to encourage, to help; not to condemn. You don’t hate me if you warn me about the dangers that lie ahead if I don’t change my course.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

During the French and Indian war at the Battle of the Monongahela, young Colonel Washington was engaged in a fierce skirmish with the Indians.  An easy target in his bold red coat, he crisscrossed the battlefield as a courier, carrying General Braddock’s orders to the troops.  The Indian warriors later acknowledged that they were targeting all officers–and particularly Washington–in the bright garb.  Yet Washington survived.   There were eighty-six British and American officers involved in the battle; sixty-three of them died.  Colonel Washington was the only officer on horseback who was not killed, and later, the Indians testified that they repeatedly shot at him, and were surprised that he never fell.  They believed he was protected by an invisible power and that no bullet, bayonet, arrow or tomahawk could harm him. 

Years later, the Indian chief sought Washington out in order to tell him what had happened in the battle.  The Chief said, “I am a chief and ruler over my tribes.  I have traveled a long and weary path that I might see the young warrior of the great battle.  [On that day] I called to my men and said, ‘Quick, let your aim be certain, and he dies.’  Our rifles were leveled, rifles which, but for you, knew not how to miss–’twas all in vain, a power mightier far than we, shielded you. I am come to pay homage to the man who is the particular favorite of Heaven, and who can never die in battle.”  

Washington himself later wrote to his brother John, “By the all-powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me!”

While I fly the flag on those special days, I consider myself an American Patriot every day. I honor America every chance I get. I am politically active; I pledge allegiance; I pray for a swift return of our country to our foundational principles. I am willing to take up arms to defend our borders and our Constitution. I am an “everyday American,” not just a “holiday American.”

It occurs to me that as a Christian the “everyday” principle also holds true. Sundays are our “Flag Days.” We put on our best selves and raise the Glory of God in worship. While Sundays are special we do not stop being Christians when our worship service ends.

We seek every opportunity to honor our God daily. We pledge our ultimate allegiance to Him every day. We pray for His Name to be honored above every name. We contend for the faith which was delivered once for all (Jude 3). We are “everyday Christians” not just on Sunday.

Isn’t that what it means to be a “disciple” of Jesus? Isn’t being like him every step of the day? Isn’t it being a person of God, not merely looking like one? It is the “everyday principle” of Christianity.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene