The Article Archives
Topic: Truth in Culture Weekly Commentaries
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Giving Thanks
November 20, 2006
S. Michael Craven
 
As we approach this national day of “thanksgiving” I thought
it necessary to reflect upon our nation’s long history of acknowledging and giving
thanks to Almighty God.
On October 3, 1789 George Washington issued the nation’s first
presidential proclamation in which he called the nation to set aside a day for giving
thanks to that “great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all
the good that was, that is, or that will be….”
President Washington gave under his official hand the
following words:
Whereas
it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to
obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His
protection and favor…
Furthermore President Washington acknowledged that he was
joined by the Congress in his appeal to the nation:
Whereas
both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend
to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to
be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of
Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to
establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:" …that
we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for
His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their
becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable
interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war;
for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since
enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to
establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and
particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious
liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and
diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various
favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.
This presidential proclamation represented, in unequivocal
terms, the government’s call upon the people of this nation to acknowledge and give
thanks to God for His many and abundant blessings. These were not benign
religious platitudes but absolute statements reflecting the consensus view of
life and reality which acknowledged that there is one God; the God who has
revealed Himself in Scripture, in nature and in the person of Jesus Christ. It
is this God that the nation once acknowledged and it is this God, the one true
God that the people of this nation have turned against and today refuse to
acknowledge and serve.
President Washington concluded his proclamation with these
words:
And also that we may then unite in
most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler
of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to
enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several
and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government
a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just,
and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to
protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown
kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord;
to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the
increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind
such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.
Seventy-four years later, in the midst of the great Civil
War, President Lincoln would issue a similar call to the nation acknowledging
the nation’s many blessings from the Lord, “…who, while dealing with us in
anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.” President Lincoln,
like our first president, would once again call the nation to national thanksgiving
and repentance with these words:
And I recommend to them that while
offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances
and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national
perverseness and disobedience…and fervently implore the interposition of the
Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may
be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony,
tranquillity and Union.
America, in its folly, has been in the process of severing its national identity and
dependence from the God who has given it birth and blessed it for so long. Therefore,
it seems to me that we might be well served to recall the proclamation of these
great men set aside for this Thanksgiving holiday and once again give thanks to
Almighty God for His longsuffering patience and mercy toward this nation and
humbly repent of our national rebellion and wanton disregard for all that is
holy and just.
This national repentance begins in the Church,
which has seemingly lost its way; abandoned [practically] its first love and so
often conformed to the world. May we on this Thanksgiving Day acknowledge the
many and abundant blessings of Almighty God accompanied by a deep and sorrowful
repentance for our individual, corporate and national sins. This, my dear
brothers and sisters is our only hope and it is for this real hope and the
promise of forgiveness that we can give thanks indeed!
May the Lord, in His great mercy, pour out His spirit upon
you, your families, His Church and this nation this Thanksgiving Day.
© S. Michael Craven 2006
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Responses
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Response from : Robert Smith |
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November 21, 2006 7:39 AM
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Just a quick note of thanks for the recent article entitled "Giving Thanks". Well said. I give thanks for you and your ministry.
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Response from : John Dillard CPA |
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November 23, 2006 8:46 AM
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Article Submission.
On the Precipice
A nation divided
With Democrats now assuming control of both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives we are now charged more than ever to set aside bipartisan politics in pursuit of world wide freedom. Ours is not a task for the faint or the lighthearted as toils and troubles are waiting striving to ensnare us at each and every step. Leading the way America has long since served as the barometer for peace loving nations throughout the world. Repeatedly stepping up to the plate, our nation has taken the fight to her enemies throughout our two hundred and thirty year history. Striking the enemy on their home-turf, America continues to pursue her enemies by land, sea, and air. America's brightest and best heroically serve in our military risking it all to maintain peace in her homeland. By their great sacrifice alone we remain safe and secure in our homes as they take the battle to the enemy. Leaving their world behind they tread into harms way at great risk to their own life making the Statue of Liberty a living symbol of freedom and not a historical footnote. Since the Revolutionary War, America has stood alone as a beacon of freedom to the world, ready to stand for all that is right in the world. From the Boston Tea party forward through to the year in Iraq, America's people have sacrificed for their homeland and the homelands of others. Though far from perfect in her execution, America remains the standard against which all peace loving nations judge their success.
War is a last resort. As the sum of all evils it represents a country's final option fighting for what is right and pure. There are no good wars as war itself is the result of humanity failing to police itself leading to untold conflicts, atrocities of every kind, and oppressed peoples. Throughout the ages war has been misused, forcing countries and peoples alike to submit to leaders not of their choosing. Just as Saddam Hussein ruled over his people inflicting a reign of fear as terror and atrocities were his watchword. Leaders throughout history from Stalin to Hitler ruled over their countries with an iron fist needlessly eliminating all who stood in their path. Seeking might rather than right, dictators have singularly ruled vehemently pursuing autocratic rather than democratic control. It is in the pursuit of morality that America has steadfastly stood on her principles willing to rightly stand against those who are willing to lay waste to her lands and peoples.
America's servicemen are indeed heroes volunteering to serve a country and indeed the world by their valiant actions and deeds. I have attended Memorial Day ceremonies where a flag was placed for every life lost in the Iraqi war. As I walked from the reviewing stand taking my flag and placing it with the others I could not help but reflect on the nearly three thousand lives lost but also of the brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and husbands and wives left behind. My heart mourned for each and every life lost and the empty chairs at Thanksgiving and irreparable loss felt by those they love. Just as our country's innocence was stolen that dark Tuesday so similarly are those lives of the survivors and their families as they strive in Overcoming Life's 9/11's. Unannounced and uninvited America was invaded by satanic forces striving for her destruction. Our soldiers, all noble, stand in the gap protecting the land of the free.
War throughout the ages has remained an unpredictable bedfellow dramatically ebbing and flowing in erratic patterns wrecking havoc in her path. No one could have predicted after the first Gulf War that America would have to return in force some ten years later to eliminate Saddam's regime. Believing Iraq to be accumulating weapons of mass destruction, President Bush orders our servicemen to return to Iraq to completely eradicate its evil leadership. Regardless of how history chooses to record our President's decision it is no less noble as we look to liberate the oppressed people of Iraq bringing the shining light of democracy to that section of the world.
Looking back into our own history by over one hundred and fifty years no one on either side of the Civil War believed that the war would last beyond just a few months. During one of our most significant battles over fifty thousand lives were lost on the battlefields of Gettysburg as General Lee suffers his worst defeat but one in retrospect it was the stepping stone to the war soon ending allowing for our great country being reunited. The last major war fought on our homeland the war left our people beleaguered and suffering from the ravages of war. Though a great work of rebuilding was ahead for its countrymen I believe the Civil War was God ordained readying our country to fulfill its manifesto destiny setting the stage for America's leadership into the twentieth century and beyond.
During World War II, the world was plunged headfirst into the battle of all battles embroiling seventy countries and our very world into dramatic turmoil. By most estimates over sixty million people lost their lives during the epic battle which spanned all seven continents. Indeed all of the events of the twentieth century led up to D-Day when America and her Allies landed on the beaches on Normandy determined to retake Europe from German control. Since that heroic day America has plunged forward consistently leading the world striving for justice for all. Over the last sixty years we have watched as Germany and her Axis of evil are defeated, the fall of the Berlin wall, and Germany being reunited shortly thereafter. NATO which was originally formed in 1949 as an alliance to safeguard its members freedom by both political and military means experienced its largest expansion of members in 2004 when seven countries formerly of the Eastern Communist Bloc joined its ranks. The world continues to get smaller the Euro dollar is used as a broad based currency throughout Europe and its prevalence and use continue to grow.
In spite of history's lessons and the wealth of knowledge afforded us by their study we are quick as a people to forget the wisdom of the past and the paths required for their successful completion. When President Truman ordered the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan it was done to shorten the war and to save the estimated one million lives which would be lost if American military were forced to invade Japan's mainland. Shortly after the bomb dropping the treaty was signed signaling the end of the war to end all wars. From the end of the war and for seven years thereafter America had a military presence on Japan's mainland helping to restore her infrastructure and a fair and just government to protect her people. Though we have been in Iraq now for three years and counting, let us not neglect the past and the necessary efforts to achieve ultimate success.
America, A Voice of One is a bright light shining on a hill bringing hope and freedom to all. We now count as allies and friends all three of the countries we fought against in World War II. Though presently we are at war, we are fighting for truth, freedom, and all that is right under God's eyes. Our present world and the future of our children are totally weighted and depending on our decisions as we look ahead. Uniting together absent from the labels which would otherwise separate us we can do great things as a house divided against itself will not stand. Though there will be pundits about who will strive to discredit those who look ahead seeking the best for a generation and all the world, we must press on taking the fight to the enemy never letting him sleep in his lair. America, at war is my country and I offer and commit my whole hearted support to our brave soldiers and leaders who try to strive to share her freedom with the world!
Author John Dillard CPA and his work can be viewed at www.John-Dillard.com and www.HISCPA.com
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Response from : John Dillard CPA |
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November 23, 2006 8:56 AM
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Overcoming Life's 9/11's
My book, Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s, exhorts its reader to overcome obstacles in their life God’s way. The book explores the book of Job and how one man despite all odds and all those who turned against him stayed true to his faith. Job’s journey is about a man who lost it all including his family, his wealth, and the support of his wife and friends, yet, stays true to his faith and to a God who restores him to all he previously had and more. Learn how to lean into the pain by seeking God and his will, learning how you can overcome all which comes our way. God does not promise that our life will be free of trials but he does say that with him our yolk will be easy. Come along as one man, Job, stands in the heat of losing it all while still clinging to his faith when all those about him deserted him. Overcoming Life’s 9/11’s will inspire and motivate you to grow in your relationship with God and to lean on him during life’s trials.
I would welcome if you might be willing to review my manuscript or perhaps just a chapter-by-chapter synopsis of my book offering a blurb my literary agent can use in its marketing.
My CPA firms website is www.HISCPA.com
My Book Ministry website is at www.John-Dillard.com
Very Sincerely Yours,
John Dillard CPA
HIS CPA P.C.
1940 Woods River Lane
Duluth, GA 30097
E-mail HISCPA@yahoo.com
770 814 9304
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Response from : Pastor Bill Pawlyshyn |
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November 23, 2006 10:58 AM
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Dear Friends in Christ
After reading the article and other responses, a general thought continues to be brought to mind: no matter who is "in charge" (e.g. political parties, big business, etc) I must comment that the writer (the Holy Ghost of course) of 2 Chronicles 7:14 gives the only alternative to resolution of the spiritual battle going on in the world. Living in Massachusetts, the baston of liberalism and intellectualism, we are discouraged and the battles we lose, and encouraged by the battles we win. To continue seeking Him in all things and praying for the lost will bring victory. No matter how many demonstrations there are, if you are lost to the Kingdom, no matter what your religious or political ideology is, you are LOST. As we approach our battles, we must remember to reflect and take heed to the words of Joshua as the Angel of the Lord stood before him and Joshua asked who was 'he' for.....We all must take to heart as Believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that we are not fighting a flesh and blood battle, but a spiritual battle and we know the enemy, the devil - the prince of Persia - is out there blinding and deceiving until Jesus'return.
Contiinue to seek Him
Your Brother in Christ
Pastor Bill
Faith Walk Ministries
Cape Cod, MA
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Response from : none of your business |
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November 24, 2006 2:43 PM
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It is just unbelievable that god-fearing idiots in this country are so hell bent on opressing everyone that do not believe.
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