Charla, along with some other family members, visited my parents grave on Memorial Day. While there I began to remember some of the precious memories with them. One memory of Dad was he loved fireworks. He loved the holidays that centered around our country. As one who came home from World War II, from being a prisoner of war, he simply loved his country. The memory of Mom was her fried chicken and her apple pies. She always said that her fried chicken and apple pie was what America was all about. I never argued with Mom when it came to her fried chicken and apple pie. My mom and dad taught me so much in life but they primarily taught me to love God and to love my country.
I realize that our world is changing and there are some sad things taking place in our country. These words express how many feel. George Carlin wrote these words entitled
“Paradox of Our Time.”
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy it less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; We have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness. We laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry too quickly, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too seldom, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life, not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We've conquered outer space, but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've split the atom, but not our prejudice. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We plan more, but accomplish less. We write more, but learn less. We build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition. These are days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you,
and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Even with all of that I still love My God and My Country. I desire to serve God and to do my best to make our Country the best it can be. There are several ways we can do this together.
- It is urgent that we pray. Andrew Murray said the man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in the world. Charles Spurgeon said, I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach. Prayer may be taken out of our schools but prayer is not removed from our homes. We can pray and we can make a difference.
- It is urgent that we live uprightly. I Peter 2:12 states, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds (and your good life) and glorify God.” If we want to change America for the better and lead people to a better life, we must be Christlike. A desire for holiness over happiness. An attitude of not my will but thy will O Lord. A walk that exemplifies our Saviour and Lord.
- It is urgent that we witness and evangelize. It is said that Dwight L. Moody was confronted and criticized for some of his evangelistic methods he used. He asked the person what method they were using and they said they were not evangelizing. Moody replied, well, I like the way I am doing it better than you are doing it. The truth is no one can do everything but everyone can do something. Someone has reminded us that nature forms us, sin deforms us, education informs us, but only Christ can transform us. All people need to be transformed by the power of Jesus Christ. Christ is the only hope for all people and for our country. Let us pray, live righteous lives and share the Good News that Jesus saves, sanctifies and satisfies those who will come to him.
Yes, I Still Miss Moms Fried Chicken and Apple Pie
Yes, I Still Love My God and My Country