Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. is about everything but...

Thanksgiving turkey

Let's face it, as a longstanding American holiday, Thanksgiving is losing more of its traditional significance with each passing generation. To put it bluntly, Americans nowadays don't look at this special day with the same reverence and respect that their parents and their grandparents and earlier generations did. It seems we've lost the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

A Thanksgiving Day tradition

As a child growing up in my mother's house, I remember Thanksgiving much differently from what I see taking place in America today. In earlier times, Thanksgiving meant a time of spiritual reflection and thankfulness to God for bringing our family through the struggles of the past months. We said prayers of thanksgiving to God acknowledging the fact that we could not have made it without His help. Back then, Americans were on one accord in expressing gratitude to God for blessing our land. And while Thanksgiving has distinctly Christian origins, a grateful nation embraced it as a national holiday by Proclamation of President Lincoln in 1863.

But all that seems to have changed. We're no longer as thankful or as grateful a nation as we once were. Thanksgiving celebrations are far from what the first Pilgrims in America had envisioned that first Thanksgiving at Plymouth, Massachusetts with their Native American benefactors. Fast forward to the present day, and Thanksgiving is about everything but giving thanks. A decision by several major U.S. retailers, including Walmart and Target, to open their doors on Thanksgiving to early Black Friday shoppers is evidence of this.

For most of us, Thanksgiving is about family, feasting, and football—approximately in that order. If we think about God at all, it usually involves saying a few simple pre-turkey-carving prayers of thanksgiving for His blessings during the year which is now fast ebbing away. - Mary E. Marshall, president, Peter Marshall Ministries

The Christian beliefs and traditions that birthed Thanksgiving have been questioned, attacked and maligned by anti-Christian forces whose ultimate goal is to remove the God of the Bible from our national life. To our shame, freedom of religion is quickly turning into freedom from religion. We have lost sight of who we are as a nation and of the God brought us to where we are. If we are truly "not just a Christian nation" then who are we? America is now a melting pot of many religions following after many gods, which may be the reason Thanksgiving is no longer celebrated in the U.S. the way it once was. God help us.

Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good; his love is eternal.
Give thanks to the greatest of all gods; his love is eternal.
Give thanks to the mightiest of all lords; his love is eternal. Psalm 136:1-3 GNT

If my people who are called by my name...2 Chronicles 7:14

Halloween: How should Christians respond

"Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good." Romans 12:21 NLT

Halloween is big business in the U.S. According to the National Retail Federation, "Halloween is the second-largest commercial holiday, with Christmas being the first." Halloween spending in the U.S. alone reached $9 billion 2018. Halloween is too big to ignore, and almost impossible to boycott. And it's not going to go away as long as commercial business continues to reap huge profits from sales during its observance. Halloween is celebrated in many other countries around the world.

Most people who celebrate Halloween, have no idea about its pagan roots; or for that matter, its Christian connection. To those who celebrate it, Halloween simply represents a fun time for kids as well as grown ups. There is certainly a counter-culture somewhere that worships the darker side of Halloween. But generally speaking, those folks are not the ones who come knocking at your door asking for treats.

Halloween is a divisive topic for Christians resulting in spirited debates over Halloween's flirtation with evil, and whether Christ followers ought to partake in this holiday. A Gallup Poll survey found that Christians are divided over religious objections to Halloween. Asan alternative, some Christian groups compromise by hosting counter celebrations that capture the fun but not the spirit of the holiday. Some just avoid any observance whatsoever preferring to wall themselves up behind closed doors when the kids come knocking. But what purpose does it serve for Christians to isolate and cut themselves off from a potential opportunity to witness to a ready pool of potential converts?

The biggest trick played on Halloween is Christian kids and adults being bottled up inside churches or homes all night. That’s right! Hiding from the devil in the family life center and surrendering the neighborhood to little Ghouls, goblins, and witches is a victory for old Beelzebub. He’s got the church right where he wants it: inside the four walls, hunkered down behind the stained glass. ---Andy Freeman, The Enemy's Victory

There's a better way. While Halloween in no way deserves the same stature as Christmas and Easter, it does provide opportunities that are unique to this holiday. For example, Halloween gives Christians an opportunity to engage with non-Christians—literally, right on their doorstep. But if some Christians can't see beyond the costumed ghosts, goblins and witches that show up, they will likely miss an opportunity to shine "light" into the dark world of Halloween.

Are some Christians trying to remove themselves from the world? Ignoring Halloween or celebrating it with believers only is not exactly an evangelical approach. Aren't we supposed to "become all things to all men so that by all possible means" we might save some? (1 Corinthians 9:22) Halloween brings our neighbors out into the streets. I can think of various creative ways to seize this opportunity for developing new relationships and sharing my faith. —Mary Fairchild, Christians and Halloween

Perhaps it's time the Christian community develop a more evangelistic strategy toward Halloween that goes beyond avoidance and isolation to focusing on sharing the gospel . Think of it as overcoming evil with good like Jesus did.

Christians should use Halloween and all that it brings to the imagination--death imagery, superstition, expressions of debauched revelry--as an opportunity to engage the unbelieving world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. —Travis Allen, Grace to You

It may mean keeping your door open for Trick or Treaters. And as you hand out candy, put a gospel tract or card in their bag. In other words, re-purpose Halloween by transforming it into an opportunity to let your light shine even brighter for Jesus. Jesus never ran from evil. Instead, he confronted it head-on exposing it for what it was.

 God commands his people to put on the shoes of the gospel of peace daily. Christians are to have evangelism on their minds every day and  look for those opportunities to witness Jesus Christ to a dark world.—Leftbehind.com

In the past, Halloween was mostly about costumes and candy. Today, it's still largely about that, but it can also be about reaching  neighbors who may never have another chance to hear the gospel.

(Updated 10/2019) 

Life: Learn to celebrate the little things

"Life is a celebration of many splendid things. You only have to look to find just a few...birthdays...happy music...a cup of hot cocoa...best friends...a picnic in the park...puffy clouds...love!...spring rain...flying a kite on a windy day...cuddly dogs...curious cats...a double scoop ice cream cone...a surprise party...colorful fish...a bright, sunny day...chirping birds...weddings...a carousel ride...holidays...a crazy quilt...peace and harmony..." Author Unknown 

When was the last time that you let your hair down, kicked your shoes off, jumped for joy, threw a party for one and really, I mean really, celebrated something? If it's been awhile or if you never have, then you're missing out on one of the greatest gifts known to humankind --- the ability to express joy through celebration. In her article, "The Importance of Celebration," author Kristine Pallette says celebrations give meaning to life:

There are many important things in life. Learning, growing, loving, and exploring are all things that each person should take time for. Celebration is another thing that everyone should take time for. Celebration adds an excitement and a lot of fun to life.

Life can be hard, a daily grind at times. A 60-80 hour work week, working 2-3 jobs, managing a business, raising kids, taking care of sick children or elderly parents, relationship troubles, being unemployed, homeless, or incarcerated, battling a terminal health condition or mental illness, --- these are just a few of life's pressing realities that can leave little time or desire for celebration. And yet, never taking time to celebrate even the small joyful moments along life's journey could make you miserable and your life less than fulfilling. "Let go of your cares and worries," says author Bruce F. Rosen. He writes:

Take your cares and worries seriously, but be kind and gentle enough with yourself to let them go. Accept that you are human, fallible and that ultimately you need to be kind to yourself. All things will pass, including your life. You are here for a short time, so try to find more joy in your journey.

Finding joy in the journey, as Rosen suggests, has proven psychological as well as health benefits. Thousands of years ago, King Solomon saw the wisdom of cultivating a life-long habit of joyful celebration and recorded it in Proverbs 17:22 AMP:

 A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

In discussing the "Nature of Joy," noted Alternative Medicine practitioner and author, Dr. Deepak Chopra offers this viewpoint:

The conditions of your life don't necessarily affect your ability to experience joy. This has more to do with your mindset: do you see the glass half full or half-empty. This mindset can be influenced through meditation or cognitive therapy. Making other people happy is another way of achieving joy.

Life on earth is far from being perfect. Nevertheless, your view of life determines how much joy you will derive from it. Are you that person who dwells on life's negatives or that person who sees the proverbial silver lining behind every dark cloud? And if you are one of nearly 30 million Americans diagnosed with some degree of depression, the way out may not be easy but it is possible. Authors John Van Sickel and Dr.Walli Carranza offer practical advice for overcoming depression in their respective articles, "6 Practical and Powerful Ways to Overcome Depression" and "How to Overcome Depression Naturally." Both authors agree that changing the way you think and serving others can add to your sense of contentment and joy in life.

After all, life is what you make it. You may not be able to do much about your circumstances (at least for now) but you can do something about your attitude. In spite of life's uncontrollable events and sometimes disappointing experiences, learn to filter out the garbage and savage what really matters. The power to choose is in your hands. Choose to celebrate the little things. Begin by thanking God for the gift of another day...

"This day belongs to the Lord! Let’s celebrate and be glad today." Psalm 118:24 CEV

 Have questions about life? Find answers at www.peacewithgod.net

Get in the boat: A tale of redemption

"For if a man belongs to Christ, he is a new person. The old life is gone. New life has begun." 1 Corinthians 5:17 NLV


One morning a man woke up and found himself all alone on a deserted island in the middle of nowhere with no idea how he got there. As he looked over his surroundings, he saw an old wooden marker lying face down in the sand. He picked it up, turned it over, and brushed away the sand to reveal these words painted on one side, "Island of Despair." The man had a sinking feeling that he was not in a good place. And that if he didn't find a way off this island, he would surely die there. But the island was surrounded by shark infested water. And he had no weapon to fight them off. From all he could see, his situation appeared to be hopeless.

It wasn't long before the man heard the sound of an airplane approaching. When the plane came near, the man started waving frantically hoping the plane's pilot would see him. As the plane flew over the island, the man watched a wooden crate fall from the plane's open cargo door and land in the sand a few feet from him. He ran over to retrieve it. Using a large rock, the man broke the crate open to reveal its contents. Inside he found several bottles of water, a hot meal and a Bible. Attached to the Bible was an unsigned note, which read: "This plane makes a food drop on this island every Friday at noon. We are praying for you." For now, the man was just grateful for a hot meal.

A week went by and the man realized that it was time for his next food drop. As he searched the sky for the plane, he could hear the sound of the plane's engines at a distance. Like clockwork, Friday at noon the plane flew over the island and dropped another wooden crate filled with water and a hot meal. Attached to a water bottle inside was an unsigned note, which read: "We're still praying for you."

The plane continued to drop food on the island every Friday at noon for as long as the man remained there, along with a note letting him know that someone was praying for him. But as long as the man got his weekly food drop, he seemed content to stay on the island. If he wanted to be rescued, he didn't act like it and did nothing to help his situation.

One Friday morning, the man awoke to darkening skies and the sound of thunder in the distance. A storm was coming. Thick dark clouds rolled in, and strong winds swirled over the island. The sea waves rose higher and higher and threatened to flood the tiny island. The man feared for his life. His eyes searched the sky anxiously for the plane; hoping the pilot would see the danger he was in and send help his way. With no place to hide from the storm, the man dug a deep hole in the sand with his hands and laid down in it. As the storm raged on around him, he remembered the words of a prayer he'd heard as a child and cried out, "Jesus, please help me."

At that exact moment, the man lifted his head and looked toward the sea. On the horizon he could just barely make out the shape of a tiny boat. It appeared to be aiming straight for the island. "Who'd be crazy enough to be out boating in this storm," the man thought to himself. It was the only boat he'd seen since being stranded on the island. The man kept his eyes on the boat as it came closer and closer.

Finally, the boat came close enough for the man to see that it was a small row boat with the word, "GRACE" painted on its side. The lone man inside the boat was steering it with a single oar. Under these conditions, it was a miracle the boat made it to the island at all. Thanks to the storm, the sharks were gone, but the huge rock formations that engulfed the island, kept the row boat from reaching land. This meant that if the man wanted to be rescued, he would have to get in the water and swim a short distance to reach the boat. The man knew this was his only chance, but looking at the high waves and choppy sea, he was afraid he wouldn't make it to the boat alive.

As he stood there staring toward the boat, the man in the boat called out to him, "I've come to save you. Don't be afraid. Trust me and get in the boat." (To be continued)...

The meaning of this story

The man in the story represents anyone who is facing a difficult time in their life. You may even feel there's no way out or that you have no one you can turn to for help. On the outside, you look like you're doing OK, but on the inside, you're empty and hurting. Something's not right and you know it. You wonder if you're going to make it. 

The island represents separation from God. You may be on that island right now. The sharks represent sin. When we disobey or do things that go against God, God calls it sin. Sin messes up your life. It traps you, trips you up and you find yourself all alone in a mess of your own making. Because of Adam, everyone is born in sin; but then, like Cain, we commit sins of our own that need God's forgiveness.

The plane represents God's mercy and the crate, God's provision. God still loves us no matter what we may have done. He's not out to condemn us. The Bible says that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 NIV).

The man in the boat represents Jesus. Jesus was sent by God to rescue humankind from its sins. The Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16 NIV)." Jesus is God's provision for our sins. Jesus risked his own life by dying on the Cross so that our past, present and future sins could be forgiven by God.

The rocks surrounding the island represent the things that keep us from coming to Jesus and accepting the salvation that God wants so freely to give to us. We let lustful desires and the sinful pleasures of this world keep us from coming to Christ. Other hindrances may include pride, anger at God, guilt, fear, or low self-esteem (not feeling you're worthy enough). You would be wrong on all counts. The Bible says that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Acts 2:21 NIV)." It doesn't matter who you are, or what country you live in; what language you speak or even your family's religion. It's a choice you must make for yourself, which God you will serve.

How does the story end

When we paused the story earlier, the man on the island was trying to decide if he was going to risk everything, get in the water and swim to the boat; or remain on the island and wait for a more convenient time to be rescued. The question is how does he know if he will ever have another chance to be rescued? The answer is, he doesn't know. That's the risk (the risk of doing nothing) he is taking by putting his decision off. 

If this were your story, how would it end? You have a choice between  accepting the salvation God offers through Jesus Christ or rejecting it. The Bible says "Today if you hear his [God's] voice, do not harden your hearts...(Hebrews 3:15 NIV)." What are you waiting for? Jesus is waiting to rescue you. There may never be a better time in your life than right now. 

The soon return of Jesus Christ: Fact or fiction?

Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil

Easter, as celebrated by Christians the world over, marks the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion on Good Friday. According to biblical accounts, after he was resurrected from the dead, Jesus ate, talked and met with his disciples. He was also seen by about 500 others during the 40-days before he ascended into heaven. But the story doesn't end there. The Bible foretells a second coming of Christ to earth at a future yet undetermined date. The Easter observance  serves to bring this prediction into even sharper focus at this time of the year.

Over the years, many people have claimed to know the exact date of Christ's return only to look foolish when their predictions proved wrong. This is not surprising since even Jesus himself doesn't know the exact date of his return, only God knows. Jesus said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be" (Matt 24:36-37). Nevertheless, there are still some people who try to trump the Creator by claiming to know the date of Christ's return.

A more recent and perhaps the most widely publicized example is Christian radio broadcaster, Harold Camping. After suffering a minor stroke, Camping later apologized for his heresy. Likewise, doomsday predictors have made predictions through the years about when the world would come to an end, again only to be proven wrong. Whether you believe that the world will end or in Christ's return is irrelevant. Ultimately, what happens and when it happens rests solely with God, notwithstanding your belief in him or lack thereof. Like in Fantasy Football , there will be winners and losers when Jesus returns. But until then, you get to decide on which team you will end up.

                                        The Resurrection Will Not Wait*

You won't be able to sit at home, brothers and sisters. You won't be able to tune in to CNN, NBC, BBC or CBS. You won't be able to make a run to the store real quick, or finish baking a cake for the Sunday school picnic because the Resurrection will not wait.

Let me say that again in case you missed it, "THE RESURRECTION WILL NOT WAIT!" The Resurrection will not wait for you to go to the drive-thru at McDonald's for a breakfast sandwich to go. There will be no delay until Shaq and Kobe win another championship.

The Resurrection will not make its worldwide comeback on Broadway or bring in the New Millennium at Paris' Folies Bergere. The Resurrection will not be shown on OWN.

Nor will there be no Lifetime movie starring Matt Damon or Kevin Hart as Jesus. The Resurrection will not be rebroadcast on cable in three parts. Or "On Demand," tivoed, or DVR'd for viewing at a later date because the Resurrection will not wait.

When the Resurrection comes, you will not be able to sign up for a crash course in Bible. The fact that you watched "The Passion of the Christ" on DVD won't count as righteous living. Serving on the church Usher Board, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School is your reasonable service, but won't earn you bonus points for the trip home when the Resurrection comes.

When the Resurrection comes, it won't be enough to have that old time religion. You must be born-again. The fact that you've belonged to the same church for umpteen years won't matter. You must be born-again. What part of "all have sinned" don't you understand? You must be born again when the Resurrection comes.

Make no mistake, the Resurrection is coming. No man knows the hour, day or year when Jesus will appear. So keep your lamp burning bright 'cause it could be tonight. Keep watch at all times and pray 'cause it could be today. Think you've got plenty of time? Think again or you'll be left behind when the Resurrection comes.

Make no mistake, Jesus is coming back. With the voice of the archangel and trump of God, Jesus will call the faithful up from their graves. Next, the redeemed who remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the sky. Everyone singing worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power, riches, wisdom and might; honor, glory and blessings.

Every eye will see it, everywhere. Every eye everywhere will see Jesus when the Resurrection comes. When the Resurrection comes, it will not wait, will NOT wait for you to get ready. When the Resurrection comes, it will be too late.

*Copyright Carolyn K. Erwin

A new year, a new life

At exactly 12:00 am every January 1, fireworks light up the night sky, champagne corks pop, horns and whistles blow, hugs and kisses are exchanged and well wishes for a Happy New Year are on the lips of  people all over the world. Behind this annual celebration is the hope that the new year will bring about a change of fortune, as well as, a chance to wipe the past year's slate clean and start over. But 364 days down the road, the unfortunate reality is that human will and human effort alone are not enough to transform our lives or make them any better.

Human efforts at self-improvement are only superficial and external at best. We believe change is just a matter of exercising our willpower. If we will ourselves to stop doing this or start doing that, it will produce the change we desire. But if willpower alone was all you needed, you would have succeeded with the first diet you tried or the first time you tried to stop smoking, drinking, using drugs or whatever else you may have tried to stop or start doing. Instead, it's the end of another year, and you find yourself back at the exact same place vowing to make many of the same changes you promised to make the year before.

And why is that? The answer lies in the simple fact that you were created by God. Therefore, you cannot recreate yourself---for that to happen, you need the Creator. In Psalm 51, King David recognizes his inability to change himself and prays: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10 KJV). King David acknowledges that without God's help his efforts to change himself are fruitless. Paul, an Apostle of Christ, explains the dilemma we all face as human beings: "I have discovered this principle of life---that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh what a miserable person I am. Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God. The answer is in Jesus Christ, our Lord!" (Romans 7:21-25 NLT)

The key to becoming a new you in this new year is surrendering your life to Christ. He alone has the power to change you. After all the Bible says that God created everything that exists and that  includes you. To the sinner, God promises that if you confess your sins, he will forgive your sins and set you on a new path --- the path of right living. To the Christian who has turned away from God to his own way, if you repent, he will forgive your sins and restore you to his family. No sin is so great that it cannot be forgiven if you come to God in a spirit of true repentance. You don't have to wait until the clock strikes midnight on January 1, you can begin your New Year with Christ right now. The Bible declares that "anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)  What a way to begin the New Year with your sins forgiven and a chance to start your life over. It doesn't get any better than that. Happy New You!

Dear God,

I turn my back on the past life I've lived. I am sorry for the sins I committed
 that have separated me from you. I believe Jesus died for my sins.

And I ask you, Jesus to come into my heart

and help me to live the rest of my life for you.

Did you pray this prayer and mean it? Congratulations, you have been born again into the family of God. Celebrate your new life. To help you understand and learn more about your new life in Christ, find a local Christ believing church in your area or contact Peace with God. 



Gun control: What the world needs now is love

"What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It's the only thing that there's just too little of." Songwriter, Hal David

At the core of every man, woman and child, no matter who they are or where they were born is a need to be loved. Love is a fundamental need of human existence much like food, water and shelter. God wired us that way. If there was more love in the world, many of the horrid things we see happening now --- despicable, disgusting, degrading things---would not be happening.

 

The Newtown school shooting is the latest in a string of mind numbing  violent incidents of unspeakable horror that have gripped America's heart in 2012. Before Newtown, there was the Oregon Mall shooting...before that the UPS shooting in Minneapolis...before that the shooting at a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin...before that the shooting at a Colorado movie theater ..before that the campus shooting in Oikos and now Newtown. Mercifully, the death toll from all these incidents stands at 56 lives lost, not counting the gunmen who took their own lives.

 

America once again finds itself in a state of shock, grief and denial. Shock at such a senseless act of violence; grief over the deaths of 20 innocent children and 6 adults; and denial about how much we ourselves are to blame. While we grieve with those who grieve, much of what is happening in this country is of our own making. As President Obama correctly observed during a vigil for those slain in the Newtown massacre, "We [as a nation] will have to change."

 

Unlike the "change you can believe in" that this President promised we'd see four years ago, our collective national outrage demands swifter action if America is to change for the better. What would a changed America look like?

 

This may be a radical idea but returning prayer to the schools would signal real change in America. When prayer was outlawed in the classroom in the 50's, the downward spiral of our education system began. Too many classrooms today resemble battlefields marked by undisciplined and disruptive students, poor academic achievement and high dropout rates. Ask any teacher, parent, or even student, allowing prayer back might help change the atmosphere.

 

We are a nation that has lost its way. Our moral compass is broken. We have shifted from the biblical principles and ideals upon which this nation was founded. Do we even know what we stand for anymore? For America to change for the better, our government will have to set the example starting at the very top. President Obama and Congress must lead the way. Putting politics aside, they must become the peacemakers to bring us together. The Bible says, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." And neither will this nation unless we put our differences aside and come together as "one nation under God."

 

We must limit those freedoms that are being exploited and used to undermine our society. The right to bear arms is one. Many are calling for stricter gun control laws but guns are not the problem ---people are. Back in the day when America was a vast uncharted wasteland and the settlers were easy prey, it made sense for every household to have guns. Today, we are more advanced and have military and police forces to assume the burden of protecting us. Nowadays, there is less reason for individuals to stockpile an arsenal of military grade weapons; less reason for such weapons to be available to ordinary citizens; and no reason for them to wind up in the hands of criminals and mentally challenged individuals as easily as they did in Newtown and in other situations.

 

Speech is another freedom being exploited, particularly by the writers, producers and performers of  "entertainment." These purveyers of our culture expose our children to unwholesome images of sex, violence, pornography and other forms of human depravity. And we wonder why bad things are happening to us? Where do we draw the line at freedom of speech? Our enemies are watching us. Russian dictator Josef Stalin once said of America: "America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within." 

 

Clearly, if we are to survive as a nation, it cannot be business as usual in America going forward. We cannot continue as we have been and risk losing future generations to violence. We must return to the former things that got us to where we are today --- faith, family and freedom. More important, we must turn back to God: "If my people will humble themselves...I will heal their land."