Category: America

Does your heart start pounding when you watch or listen to the news?

Many of us know that feeling, because it’s obvious that emotions run high on all sides. Lots of speculation–and fear.

That makes it a good time to remind ourselves that our good old USA has been in turmoil before and this probably won’t be the last time that’s true. Whatever our current crises may be, this time likely will end up being another variation on an earlier period in U.S. history.

If you doubt that, just read this editorial from Harper’s Magazine. It appeared in their October 10, 1847, edition, 175 years ago.

(Please note at the time this was written it was socially and politically acceptable to use the term “man” to refer to all of humankind.)

It is a gloomy moment in history. Not in the lifetime of any man has there been so much grave and deep apprehension; never has the future seemed so dark and incalculable.

In France the political cauldron seethes and bubbles with uncertainty.

England and the British Empire are being sorely tried and exhausted in a social and economic struggle, with turmoil at home and uprising on her teeming millions in her far-flung Empire.

The United States is beset with racial, industrial and commercial chaos, drifting we know not where.

Russia hangs like a storm cloud on the horizon of Europe–dark, menacing and foreboding.

It is a solemn moment, and no man can feel indifference, which happily, no man pretends to feel in the issue of events.

Of our own troubles no man can see the end. …

What if we took that essay as encouragement instead of gloom?

History–all of it–is loaded with missteps and mistakes, repeated again and again. Yet the sun keeps rising and setting on schedule and so does the moon. God set it up that way.

Here are a few quotes and Scripture verses I pray would be heart-lifters for you as they are for me.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. –Franklin D. Roosevelt

[Jesus said] “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. –1 Peter 5:7

Courage is fear that has said its prayers. –Dorothy Bernard

May you find JOY in your day-to-day,

Lenore

Take Heart! The USA Will Endure

May 29, 2025
We've all lived it. Times when we felt numb and hopeless, for whatever reason.

Right now some of us might blame it on taking in too much of what's going on around us in connection with the 2024 U.S. elections.

Angry talk, accusations and division fill the air–and every kind of media or social platform we turn to. Even friends and family members walk on eggs around each other, afraid to voice their opinions out loud.

It's fair to say it often looks and sounds more like we are the Divided States of America.

What happened to national unity?

From the beginning every American schoolkid heard over and over that the United States was the great melting pot. This was the one place on earth where it didn't matter what your name was or how much money you had. Whether you were born here or in another country and arrived via legal immigration.

No wonder the national mindset could be summed up like this:

We are Americans! We are one!

Also in that time everyone understood the truth of what we still say today: "Nobody's perfect."

Hardly anyone argued with that, being well-acquainted with their own repeated failures to keep their good resolutions.

As one old-timer put it, "Ain't no perfect people anywhere. Anytime."

Let's get our brains in gear

Let's set aside the charges and counter-charges for a moment and focus on some unique, foundational truths about our Nation:

We the citizens have the right to vote and elect our President, Vice President, Senators and Representatives and other governing officials.

We have the right to complain about those we elect at the National, State or local level of Government without fear of being dragged off to a work camp.

We have the right to work for any employer who will hire us. Own any car we can afford. Live in any house we can pay for. In any State we choose.

We are free to form our own opinions. Every single one of us, agree or disagree. Free to worship God–or remain skeptical.

This is rare. Shouldn't that fact give us the right to be proud of these United States of America?

Is America perfect? Not by a long shot. Is America more good than bad? Yes

If we focus only on the flaws in our society and in people and in our world, we cheat ourselves, our families and the people in our lives. There is so much more.

Like most Christians, I believe God put you and me right where we are, among the people in our lives. Why? Only He knows the full story. What if His purpose is so we can speak what is true and be a blessing? Here. Now.

As someone has said, if we're alive and breathing it's a sign that God still has a purpose for us. A reason to go on.

What can one person do?

Those of us who are Christians believe we are to pray for all those who are in authority, that they would have–or at least exercise–integrity and good judgment.

We all can pray that truth will prevail, in government, in education at every level, and in the hearts and minds of the people of this Nation.

Just as importantly, let's remind ourselves that ultimately, freedom is a matter of the heart and mind. As a Christian I believe this verse points the way:

[Jesus said] "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

For all of us, as clear-thinking adults, let's not get caught up in what is divisive. Rather, may we focus on what is good and right and true.

That does not mean constantly barging into conversations in an effort to ensure our opinions dominate. Rather, we are to be gentle and kind in our conversations with friends, coworkers and family members.

We cannot bring peace in the world all by ourselves, but we can be up-builders in the place where God has planted us.

NOW is the time!

If you have not registered to vote, do it NOW because the deadlines are upon us.

I implore you that between now and November 5 you would weigh the evidence and evaluate each candidate. Make up your own mind. Then be sure that you cast your vote–for your well-considered choices. Follow the instructions in your State, but get that vote in–and be sure it gets counted.

Let's not waste our privilege as citizens of this much-blessed Nation.

Humbly and lovingly,

Lenore
How Do We Get Through This Troubling Time?

October 22, 2024
Are you weary of the constant barrage of news reports filled with angry charges and dissent?

Me, too.

Let's not get stuck there. Let's step back in our minds to before the United States of America officially existed. The population seethed with unease because this was a colony of Great Britain. For anyone to speak or act against the King's decrees could result in being charged with treason.

Still, in that setting a small group of men summoned up courage to gather in secret. They labored together for days as they hammered out the unforgettable words of our Declaration of Independence. From the first to the last they knew they were risking their lives and everything they owned.

When they signed their names it was akin to signing their own death warrants. Yet they did not flinch.

Even today their words live on

"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."

These were audacious words in an era when every man, woman and child within our borders was subject to a powerful Ruler and government headquartered across a vast Ocean.

The signers believed in God ("their Creator") and their Declaration of Independence makes that clear. Its adoption by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, marked the United States of America as an independent nation. It took the Revolutionary War to establish this as fact to Great Britain and the rest of the world.

Through all the unrest of that time–and so many times in our history, including today–America survives.

Leaders, then and now

Our Nation's Founders believed in God. If you doubt that, read some of their words:

"We recognize no sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus." -John Adams and John Hancock.

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." -George Washington

"[The Bible] is the rock on which our Republic rests." -Andrew Jackson

These Founders stated what they believed. No doubt they also relied on Bible verses like this:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Instead of angst let's take each day as a gift and leave it in God's hands

Let's substitute encouraging each other for complaining and repeating our gripes and our fears to the people around us.

We know for sure this is not the first time in our Nation's history when emotions ran high and trust ran low. No doubt it won't be the last.

As we take in the news and conversations around us let's use reason and logic to evaluate individuals and current events. After all, since the beginning leadership positions have been held by imperfect people.

(That shouldn't surprise us since that's all there is to draw on.)

Finding a place of calm

The future–all of it–is in the hands of our gracious Father, who loves us with an everlasting love. We can safely rest our hearts in Bible promises like these:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

The courageous men who signed our Declaration of Independence believed this. This strong foundation of faith has carried these United States of America through many a crisis.

However flawed we may be as a Nation or as individuals, it takes nothing away from these Truths.

Choose a new perspective

Imagine how our society would change for the better if each of us made it our purpose to be a blessing to our family and friends.

Think how that would–could–change us. Our street. Our community. Our Nation.

Whatever our stage of life this could give us a sense of new Life, plus the Liberty of being free of old mindsets. Our personal pursuit of Happiness would result in good all around.

Reason to celebrate, for sure!

Praying for this Nation and for you,

Lenore

Remember: God’s got it covered

June 28, 2024
It's the time of year when flags and fireworks and patriotic songs remind us we live in a free country.

It's a good time to ask: How about you and me? Are we living free?

Each of us will answer that question differently.

And real freedom has very little to do with the circumstances of our lives. Keep that in mind as you read these words from a man diagnosed with cancer:

    "I'm a forward-looking person but also a living-in-the-moment     person So I wake up every day expecting to have a good day. It     may sound trite … but life as you get older is about 20 percent of     what happens to you and about 80 percent how you react to it." –Nick Charles

You've probably heard that sort of thing said before. I have, too, but never with more power.

Nick Charles said it when he was close to death–and knew it

Whether he was a Christian I don't know, but he spoke truth that applies to every one of us:

How we react to what happens to us determines our lives.

It's like that old advertising slogan: "It's what inside that counts." How we react and respond flows out of what's inside us, in the core of our being.

I confess it took me way too long to really grasp this truth, but I gained a new understanding when I read an old book, Man's Search for Meaning, by the late Viktor Frankl, M.D., Ph.D.

Before World War II, Frankl, his wife and his parents lived the good life in Vienna, Austria. Then the Nazis invaded and like almost six million other Jews, they were sent to a Nazi concentration camp and immediately separated.

Viktor Frankl never saw any of them again

Right away the Nazis took away everyone he loved and all Frankl's possessions, even his wedding ring. At losing that precious reminder of his "before" life, he thought for awhile he could not go on.

Then as if a light bulb went on in his mind (a gift he later felt came from God) a great truth became clear to him and from that moment on, Viktor Frankl knew he would survive Auschwitz.

Although he remained a prisoner, Frankl realized that no matter how the cruel guards mistreated him, only he possessed–and would possess as long as he breathed–the power to control his thoughts.

He summed it up in this statement

"Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms, to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."

Viktor Frankl in a death camp. Nick Charles close to death from cancer. Both of them very much in crisis mode, yet both expressed the same point:

We cannot control everything in our lives, but we do control what we think about it.

What we think about the circumstances of our lives dictates how we respond to what comes our way and to the people in our lives.

Knowing that gave them new courage to face what came next.

As usual, the Bible said it first

For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he …. Proverbs 23:7 KJV

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.   Isaiah 26:3 ESV

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

Reread those verses and think what God gives to each believer to empower them to live fully and live free.

It's a bit sobering to realize what that means

It takes just three words to sum up this principle: It's our choice.

WE hang the labels on what happens to us.

WE choose to park our minds in a lousy place or in a good place.

WE decide how we will respond to what comes into our lives and to the people in our lives.

It doesn't matter whether we are young or old, rich or poor, in or out of crisis. Once we know this and really believe it is true, it can change our life.

As Viktor Frankl put it, it's the one freedom no one can take from us. It's the way each of us can "live free," unhampered by the idea that we are prisoners of circumstance.

And for those of us blessed to be living in the Land of the Free it's like the icing on the cake.

May God bless America, our beloved Country, now and in the future!

Praying, always,

Lenore

You can find real freedom in any situation

July 3, 2022
If asked to name a one-word description of what sets the good old USA apart most of us would answer, "Freedom."

Most of us take our freedom as Americans for granted. Why wouldn't we? Freedom is like the air we breathe: Always there.

Perhaps that's why we forget freedom isn't free and therefore take veterans and Veterans Day lightly.

Let's take another look.

Maintaining our freedom cost life itself for many. Those who loved them deal with pain and emptiness that won't quit.

Even many of those who survived still deal with pain of body and mind, some of them for life.

Veterans Day is all about honoring fellow U.S. citizens who served in our Armed Forces over the years. Even those who never served in a war zone set aside their personal "civilian" life choices for years.

Those who loved them and their extended families so often did the same. Without this sacrifice you and I would not be free.

It seems a puny gesture to honor veterans only one day of the year, doesn't it?

In the larger sense, Veteran's Day is about what it costs to hang onto our freedom

One U.S. Marine Corps chaplain expressed it well.

"It is the soldier, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press.

"It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.

"It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.

"It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag."

-Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, Sergeant, USMC

Giving honor where it is due

Honor translates into respect and appreciation. When we speak it and live it, our children pick up the message: Freedom is precious and those who protect it deserve to know we appreciate what they do.

It doesn't require grand gestures, just the right heart attitude.

If we truly value those who serve/served, it will show.

Children and young people are watching and listening all the time. Even (and especially) when they pretend not to. Kids watch adults hoping to pick up clues on what to believe and what to say and how to live.

From now on let's make sure we–and our children–notice and talk to veterans and those currently serving and just say Thanks.

This simple gesture can help kids understand that real people keep us free. People who have dreams and feelings and families who love them.

People very much like their parents and the adults they know and love.

If we don't pass on this attitude of appreciation to the next generation, who will?

It's as easy as speaking well of those who serve in our Armed Forces now or have done so in the past. Always.

Are they perfect and do they always make right decisions? Of course not. They are human beings, as we are. But to let the failings of a few overshadow what is good and right and true misses the point.

Why not choose to look instead at all this Nation has come through?

Ponder the gracious hand of God's blessing on this Nation, right from the start. When we do, we reinforce our own sense of gratitude and satisfaction as Americans.

What's more, our words and attitudes "trickle down" to our children–and beyond. Our positive comments help them feel good about their world.

Like it or not, our kids "catch" and mimic our outlook on the world.

Once again it comes down to the Golden Rule

It's all about being grateful and showing it. These simple words of Jesus (Matthew 7:12a ESV) cover most of life's situations and human relationships.

So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them…

Let's just do it! Let's speak our thanks to our veterans or those who actively serve in our Armed Forces. A hug or a pat on the back can encourage their family members, too.

Each of us, whatever our age or ability, can do that much. Any day of any year. Think how that bit of affirmation might strengthen and comfort them.

Instead of fretting and complaining about what's wrong with America, let's start being part of what's right with these United States of America.

Consider it a way to speak up for–and help to hang on to–our freedom as Americans. If it seems one person cannot make a difference, listen to Edward Everett Hale

"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. And by the grace of God, I will."

With gratitude,

Lenore

Let’s remember who we are as a nation–and tell our kids

November 10, 2021
The 20th anniversary of 9/11 occurs this year, 2021.

That day changed the way we Americans think and introduced all of us to a new kind of fear, an underlying anxiety.

Even now, television replays and photos of that day shock us and remind us of the ongoing horror and the sorrowful days that followed.

Some ask what good does it do to remember because no one can rewrite one second of that day?

Yet we must remember, if only to recall to our minds that 9/11 changed life as we knew it and ushered in extensive safety and security restrictions as "normal" in our daily lives.

Perhaps we need the annual reminder that life is fragile and each one of us is vulnerable at any moment of any day.

It could have been any of us that happened to be in the World Trade Center at that exact moment

Less than two months before 9/11, a friend and I sat in the the glass-walled Observation Tower on the top floor of one of those Twin Towers.

It was my first time in Manhattan and I loved it.

My husband and I lived in Washington state and I sang with a community choral group. In July of 2001 our Chorus traveled across the country to give a few concerts. New York City was to be our second stop.

First we sang for a large national church conference group in Washington, D.C.

Our performances ended mid-afternoon. That gave most of our chorus members ample time to head on over to the U.S. Capitol. We all knew from watching past Independence Day celebrations on TV that's what was scheduled for the evening of July 4th.

Now we–with no prior arrangements whatsoever–wanted to watch it up close and personal, so we decided to chance it whether we could find a place among the mass of attendees. After all, the hotel clerk said, "Just walk on over and find a place to sit."

A carefree July 4 in DC

About sunset a group of us singers/sightseers found empty spots where we could perch on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Not a barrier in sight. No fenced-off areas. All around us people were strolling about freely.

It seemed like a photo-shoot of America. The grounds were filled with folks of all ages and every color, many conversing in unfamiliar (to us) languages. Some people spread their blankets and picnics on the Capitol lawn. Some put out lawn chairs brought from home and positioned themselves to get the best view of the stage show and fireworks to come. Kids did what kids do, playing tag and running around between blankets and chairs.

We all mingled peaceably and it seemed every face wore a smile.

Those in our group talked of how amazing and wonderful it was that such large crowds could gather so close to the Nation's Capitol building. One said, "It all reminds you what it means to live in a free country, doesn't it?"

Not one of us imagined this would be the last time crowds assembled for Independence Day–or any day–would enjoy such freedom of access.

Next day we were off to New York City to give another performance

We had some personal time earlier in the day. My friend had been there many times and insisted we must go to the Twin Towers, because "Everyone needs to go up on top and just look out at least one time in their lives."

We took the elevator to the top, the Observation floor, which featured glass walls that stretched around most of that floor. We found empty seats in the front row and sat for perhaps 20 minutes with our knees pressed against the glass.

Then I walked all around the roomy space, awed by the evidence of God's creative hand in the beauty of land and sea and sky on all sides. That grandeur touched my heart way more than the works of man, the impressive skyscrapers that dwarfed the Empire State Building.

A couple of smiling security guards watched as we came in and when we left, simply observing the people who were there. Nothing more.

Nothing more was needed.

That night our Chorus performed at a concert hall, complete with orchestra. (I kept pinching myself.) Once again, no complex security requirements. Audience members needed only a ticket. We performers simply walked in the Stage Entrance. One Security guard, casually keeping watch. No hassle, just walk in.

My heart brimmed over on that trip and on our flight home, thanking God that I was able to be included in that "dream" trip.

And so blessed to live in these United States of America.

Who could have known these would be "before" freedoms?

On 9/11, life changed. For all of us. Never again would we take it for granted that we were safe, simply because we lived in the United States of America.

Ever since, there's been an underlying sense of fear and watchfulness, as if collectively, we were waiting for "next time."

Since 9/11, nobody without proper credentials strolls aimlessly through the U.S. Capitol grounds–or anywhere else in public buildings or grounds of Washington, D.C. Or in most other Government buildings, whether national or state.

How have we come safely through these past years? We may credit this Administration or that Administration. We may reel off a long list of agencies and personnel and give credit where, yes absolutely, credit is due.

Yet every expert in every field tells us the best efforts by the best people remain insufficient. No agency, no amount of armed guards, no amount of money spent for the latest defense equipment, can guarantee the safety of this Nation–nor of us as individuals.

Evil is real. Evil exists all around us, just as it has since Eden. To consider Evil an outdated concept is akin to burying one's head in the sand.

The ongoing lesson is this: Only one sure Defense exists

By now we all know very well that people and programs are not enough to keep us safe. We need Help that will never fail us. Where can we turn?

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 ESV

Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Proverbs 30:5 ESV

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 ESV

As a Nation, as individuals, we could not be in better hands–on this day or any day of any year.

May God bless America, indeed, and keep us safe, both now and in the future!

And, Gentle Reader, may you know His peace in your heart and in your life, the peace that passes all human understanding.

Trusting and praying, too,

Lenore

Ongoing Lessons from 9/11

September 9, 2021
What are your thoughts when you see a flag flying, whether outside a home or at any public place?

It seems that many consider the flag a visual offense, wherever it is–just by being there. And they're not all young, not all "radical," or whatever convenient label might come to mind.

An area realtor told of a recent experience with an older married couple who were looking for a house.

Both were Caucasian and judging by their clothing and their car, these two were accustomed to living "the good life."

After the realtor had driven them around the community for an hour or so, the wife told him, "Well, the homes are nice, I grant you that, but I would not want to live in this community."

When asked why, she said, "Too many American flags, they're all over the place! It makes me extremely uncomfortable. I could never feel at home here. Thanks for your time, but we need to look elsewhere for a house."

One photo that says a lot

Nobody knows who took the above photo of the U.S. flag–or where–and no one found evidence it's a Photoshop editing job. Someone snapped it at just the moment when the sun's reflection came through in the shape of a cross.

I smile every time I see this photo. It reminds me that even in the midst of all the unrest and the protests and the endless blah, blah, blah, God has not given up on us and walked away in disgust.

For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage. Psalm 94:14 ESV

Step back to the beginning, to when our Declaration of Independence was hammered out

Some of us easily rattle off these familiar words, but for once, let's read them slowly. Thoughtfully. Here's the first paragraph:

"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."

(Note: This is not "sexist language." In that time–and for eons–the phrase "all men" would have meant "all people" or "all humankind.")

The Declaration ends with these words:

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

Did the 56 men who signed this Declaration really mean these words?

These courageous men risked everything to go on record with their beliefs and their signatures. They knew beforehand that it could mean prison or death.

Some who signed this Declaration did pay with their lives and their fortunes–or various family members did. Even close relatives and former friends often wanted nothing to do with them.

All this because they believed the United States of America should be independent, with a government elected by its citizens.

From the beginning, the USA became known as "a Christian Nation"

Did that identification fit? Read a few statements of the Founders and decide for yourself:

"[The Bible] is the rock on which our Republic rests." – Andrew Jackson

"We recognize no sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus." – John Adams and John Hancock

"Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshipped." – Benjamin Franklin

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." – George Washington

"The gospel of Jesus Christ prescribes the wisest rules for just conduct in every situation of life . . . If moral precepts alone could have reformed mankind, the mission of the Son of God into all the world would have been unnecessary." - Benjamin Rush

"What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ." – George Washington

Our Nation today seems far from that

Most people think our society could use some help.

That makes it easy to be discouraged. It can feel good to hang with others of the same mindset and everyone say "Tsk, tsk, tsk" in unison. But what good does that do?

Whatever our personal opinion, a lot of us feel helpless to make anything better. As always, it starts with the one person looking back at us from our bathroom mirror.

Helen Keller lived with blindness from early childhood. Still, she left her mark in the world–and made it better–with wise words like these:

"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do."

So what can I do, right here and right now?

One answer is obvious and free to all of us. We can use our voices and our time to build up, rather than tear down.

Small gestures matter–and they make a difference.

As an example, take one of the longtime checkers at a local supermarket. I know nothing about her personal life, but she seldom stops smiling. Anytime someone asks how she is, her answer goes something like this. "Great, just great. I'm so blessed I can hardly stand it!"

Then she'll ask how her customer is doing and always offer some kind of encouragement or bring up something positive that's going on in our community. I've noticed that every person who walks away from her counter leaves wearing a smile.

This one individual lives out the Apostle Paul's words:

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

It's time to get off the hamster-wheel

Too many of us have been going round-and-round, endlessly reciting what's wrong with these United States. I haven't noticed this makes anyone happier, have you?

So let's cut it out! Let's focus our attention on what is right with America.

Our Constitution was hammered out carefully, then finally ratified on June 21, 1788. Patrick Henry was one of those who ratified it and he said this:

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."

That was true then. It is true now.

Let us not forget who we are!

We have reason for thanks every day of every year. Thanks for the courageous men of faith and vision who founded our Nation. Thanks for the protection of Almighty God. From the beginning He has been gracious and merciful despite all the ways we've lost our way.

He has not given up on us, has not walked away. Neither should we, not even in our minds.

Of all people, we who are Christians have reason to be consistently joyful. We actually can grasp what signers of our Declaration of Independence and Patrick Henry were talking about. Yes, we live in a world that's broken. But we do not lose hope because we know Who it is that holds our world together.

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17

Now there's something solid and immovable to hang onto. To rejoice in. To celebrate, no matter how shaky it feels in the moment.

May God continue to bless America and keep this Nation strong!

Thankfully,

Lenore

Look at our foundation to assess the lasting strength

July 1, 2021
In recent times many people feared America might crumble under the strain of politics

They forgot this Nation has come through hard times before. Survived and even thrived, because of (or in spite of) whoever held elected office.

On January 9, 1790, our first President, George Washington described the beginning of these United States and used a phrase that's now common:

"The establishment of our new Government seemed to be the last great experiment for promoting human happiness."

Democracy, still in existence–to the amazement of the rest of the world. (Can there be any explanation except it is by the grace of God?)

You and me, blessed to live in America, the land of new beginnings. The land where anything is possible.

You and me, still here and still alive, by the grace of God. Every day is the gift of our Creator. May we take Psalm 118:24 to heart–and live it:

This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

It's time to make a new start

Our recent Presidential election shows an almost equal divide among votes received. Opinion polls report the same. Differing mindsets are not bad because, hey, this is America. What's harmful is when "we" quickly judge "they" are blind and vice versa, forgetting we each have the right to sincerely believe what we believe.

Let's ditch the carping and criticizing that causes discomfort among friends and family "on the other side."

When we hang onto the mindset of "sides," we all lose. Our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, laid out the reason why:

"A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

America's history is peppered with accounts of missteps and misguided leaders along the way. Yet God preserved this "great experiment" over and over again. And he tells us how to relate to those in authority positions, as in:

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Romans 13:1 ESV

This Nation was founded on timeless principles

Our founding fathers hammered out the unforgettable first paragraph in our Declaration of Independence:

"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."

Their last sentence identifies the cornerstone and foundation stones for their Declaration:

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

Our Founders were wise and principled individuals, yet they relied on our all-knowing God to show them the way.

It cost them dearly

Those men ho signed the Declaration of Independence and later, the U.S. Constitution, risked everything they had to found this Nation and to break away from powerful Great Britain.

They knew the hazards beforehand. A number paid with their lives and their fortunes–or members of their families did. As for their "sacred honor," some people around them called them traitors to the Crown. That surprised no one.

John Hancock refused to be intimidated and signed the Declaration first in large, bold script, declaring, "Well, I guess the King should be able to read that!"

Did our Nation's founders believe in God?

Decide for yourself:

"We recognize no sovereign but God, and no King but Jesus." –John Adams and John Hancock

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." –George Washington

"By renouncing the Bible, philosophers swing from their moorings upon all moral subjects… It is the only correct map of the human heart that ever has been published… -Benjamin Rush

Our U.S. Constitution came into being in 1787

That's when many of these same men came together to write the binding document that would detail how the federal government would function.

It required courage even to try to put together this new way of running a country–and it took time. The Constitution vested the power of this union in the people, yet each state had different laws, interests and cultures. The challenge was to lay out how this group of states could unite into one body.

Predictably, not everyone favored such a system of government. Many citizens still had ties with Great Britain and remained loyal to the Crown.

As before, the founders forged ahead and relied on Almighty God:

"For my own part, I sincerely esteem it [the Constitution] a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests." – Alexander Hamilton (In 1787 after the Constitutional Convention)

The great pillars of all government and of social life [are] virtue, morality, and religion. This is the armor, my friend, and this alone, that renders us invincible. –Patrick Henry

"The Constitution only guarantees you the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." -Benjamin Franklin

These men had no instruction manual

They were striving to do what hadn't been done, to put together a nation like none other on earth and set up its governing structure from scratch

They had only themselves and God. But that was more than enough.

The brave men who penned the Declaration of Independence knew their Bibles. The principles they set down for this fledgling United States of America reflect Bible verses like these:

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.– II Cor. 3:17

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. – Psalm 33:12

Reflections from some later U.S. Presidents

"The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God." –President John F. Kennedy

"If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under." -President Ronald Reagan

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."-Dwight D. Eisenhower

Let's leave behind grumbling and intrigue and search out reasons to give thanks

May we look for evidence that God has not walked away from America. It's all around us if we have eyes to see–in people, in nature and yes, in politicians.

Every day let us humbly ask God to watch over us and to guide every public official, at every level, whether we voted for them or not. Let's also pray He will preserve this nation from those who would destroy it, whether from without or within.

Rich or poor, old or young, let's deliberately talk about what's right about America and those elected to lead us. That simple strategy will help us be a positive influence in our family and among our friends.

Our founders meant us to live honorable and peaceful lives. So does our Maker. Here are just two of many Bible verses that flesh out how to treat the people around us.

Let each of you look not only to his [or her] own interests, but also to the interests of others. -Philippians 2:4

[Jesus said] "And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them." -Luke 6:31

Imagine if we remembered who we are as Jesus people

Imagine if we let it show.

[Jesus said] "You are the light of the world . . . let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." –Matthew 5:14a, 16 ESV

If you and I live by those simple instructions our Nation will grow stronger.

It was true for our Founding Fathers and it is true for each of us: God is our strength, our hope, our refuge.

With a grateful heart,

Lenore

America will endure so long as we keep our foundation solid

January 21, 2021
We're grieving the loss of what we believed America is all about.

That a mob would batter their way into our U.S. Capitol building makes us heartsick. "This is America!" we want to scream. "That does not happen here!

Except it did. On January 6, 2021.

Many of the folks in that mob no doubt considered themselves "good people," who were upholding truth, justice and what is right.

Reportedly, many were Christians. Yet everyone with even a smidgen of Bible knowledge knows that Jesus taught his followers to obey the laws.

Standing to show support is one thing. The actions of those who stormed the Capitol went way beyond that, to breaking the law.

The Apostle Paul got specific about how Christians are to relate to those in charge.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.   Romans 13:1-2 ESV

Paul offered no exceptions such as "unless you don't agree," or "unless you didn't vote for them" or even "unless you don't like the way they exert their authority."

Our call as the people of God is to "be subject" to those who were elected or appointed to their positions of authority. They are where they are because our all-knowing God put them there.

(It also doesn't matter if we can't figure out how or why.)

Freedom always carries risks

Freedom and democracy only work if we citizens govern ourselves first of all and live as law-abiding people.

President Abraham Lincoln said it long ago:

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

If the citizenry as a whole becomes cynical and trusts no one in Government or in any position of authority it will erode our Nation from the inside.

It's the same for us as individuals. If we become bitter and distrustful we begin to die on the inside. Our call as Christians is to live by what we say we believe, what the Bible teaches.

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.  2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

Where do we go from here?

President John F. Kennedy offered timeless good advice:

"Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democrat answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future."

Whether or not we realize it, we're part of what the future will be, not only for ourselves but for the people around us. Let's be up-builders.

Jesus summed up how we're to live:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. this is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39 ESV

It's time to refresh and refuel

A steady diet of TV news or Internet articles causes malnutrition of our hearts and minds.

The way to nourish and uplift our spirits is by making time to read our Bibles and pray. Pray for our loved ones and ourselves and also asking God's guidance for our leaders and that there will be peace within our Nation.

Here are three Bible verses to keep close to our hearts:

[Jesus said] "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me." John 14:1 ESV

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 ESV

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 28:7-8 ESV

How shall we live from now on?

First, we're to remember who we are as Americans and even more, as God's people.

Beyond that, we're to speak and work for the good of our family, our community and our Nation. Once again, the Bible tells us how:

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  1 John 4:7-9 NIV

Now's the time to let the anger and sadness melt away in God's love. If we are Christians through the love of Jesus, let's live that way. Let's rejoice because we know HE has the last word.

Our merciful God was there before the beginning of the world and he will be there after the end. It's all in his hands and we are safe.

Right now many of us are mourning a deep loss

January 8, 2021