While there are still several weeks left in this calendar year, one thing is certain: This has been a year of dramatic changes. From political uprisings and civil unrest to record-setting weather patterns, 2011 will leave an indelible mark on this world. With all the negative news coming at us ’round the clock, it’s sometimes hard to focus on the good things.

America has long been the ‘land of plenty’ — or, you might say, the ‘land of excess.’ You have to wonder what the early settlers to Plymouth Rock would have to say about the way we live. After all, those folks — who, according to H. U. Westermayer, constructed seven times as many graves as huts — still saw fit to set aside a time to give thanks to God. These Puritans were arguably the most impoverished Americans ever, yet they acknowledged God as the source of their blessings. They understood the art of thanksgiving.

In this time of persistent protests and rowdy upheaval, there’s a lot of talk about ‘the  99-percent.’ I contend that pretty much all of us constitute the one-percent . . . at least figuratively speaking. Consider this:

Americans are some of the wealthiest people in the world, with a very high GDP per capita. Americans are top in the world for most material possessions. The number of televisions, vehicles, and other such products per person are considerably higher than in any other country. For instance, the United States has some 754 televisions for every thousand people. No other country is even above 700, with Japan being closest at 680/1000. [Source: economicexpert.com]

While Americans don’t necessarily blow every country out of the water, particularly when you consider the long hours so many of us work, we as a people are undeniably blessed. Even with higher-than-usual levels of unemployment, continued home foreclosures, and rising costs of living, for all intents and purposes Americans are indeed blessed. One thing is generally true about tougher times: We are forced to evaluate priorities, strengthen relationships, and develop character — and hopefully a much deeper appreciation for God.

This Thanksgiving, consider yourself blessed if any or all of the following statements are true for you:

• You have food, clothing, and shelter.
  Nearly two billion people in the world live in poverty.

• You can read and write.
  Nearly 15-percent of people age 15 and up cannot. (worldwide)

• You are gainfully employed — part-time or full-time.
  Millions even in America do not have jobs. (Consider yourself especially blessed if you enjoy your work.)

• You have reasonably good health and access to healthcare services.
  Many around the world do not.

• You have family who cares about  you.
  I recently read about a man who lost every member of his family in an earthquake in Turkey.

• You have at least one close friend.
  Loneliness is becoming more and more common even in our seemingly connected culture.

• You enjoy physical safety and security.
  Many people live in constant fear of crime or terror attacks.

There are so many other ways by which we can gauge our blessings and quality of life. For me personally, the one thing for which I am most grateful is my relationship with Jesus Christ, who took my sin and shame and died for me that I might enjoy abundant life on earth and eternal life in heaven with Him. Everything else really is gravy. If you don’t know Him, I’d love nothing more than to share that gift with you. Feel free to contact me.

I pray that your season of thanksgiving would not be all about a day on the calendar. I pray that you will acknowledge your blessings all year long — as well as the One from whom all blessings flow. Discover the art of thanksgiving. It can be truly life-changing.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Here’s a quick video that says a lot in just 80 seconds:

IT’S YOUR TURN!
What are you thankful for this year?

On that Tuesday morning I had been in my office at a residential children’s facility for about an hour when the phone rang. The voice on the other end belonged to my wife, Michelle . . . yet there was a timbre in her tone that instantly conveyed the message that all was not well. Immediately my thoughts rushed to my then eight-month-old son, Jackson, who was in the house with her. But before I could ask about him, Michelle interrupted and asked, “Have you seen the news?”

“No,” I replied, puzzled. I quickly clicked onto a news website and saw ‘BREAKING NEWS’ in bright red.

“A plane has crashed into the World Trade Center,” she said, her voice shaking. “It’s bad, Garrick.”

I quickly headed to the TV room to turn on the news. Of course, finding the news wouldn’t be a problem, since it seemed to be on every channel. Within a matter of minutes, I, along with the rest of the waiting world, would soon discover that this was no accident. When the second plane hit the South Tower at three minutes past the hour, I remember my heart just sinking. Those of us gathered around stood speechless, in total disbelief of what our eyes were telling our brains.

In those moments the world as we knew it changed forever. Freedom turned to fear and anxiety to agony as the full scope of this attack on America unfolded in what seemed like slow motion. Within the hour another plane hit the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. Reporters on the ground struggled to explain what was happening. They couldn’t quite wrap their minds around it all either.

By the time United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, I remember thinking to myself, “When will it end? What’s next?!”

Of course, my job didn’t really afford me the luxury of becoming a shell-shocked couch potato, as much as I wanted to be just that. As the manager of that residential program, I was responsible for the emotional and physical well-being of a number of children, ranging in age from five to twelve years. As the houseparents received word that the schools were dismissing children, we all began to shift into survival mode. The kids would have questions. We all did. But the one thing none of us could afford to do was let the kids know we were upset.

I met quickly with our morning shift workers and discussed our action plan for dealing with the kids and their families. Above all, the plan involved channeling our adrenaline into positive thoughts and actions. Somehow on 9/11 the world seemed a whole lot smaller . . . a lot more connected . . . and a lot more caring.

As I went to the store that day, I couldn’t help but notice that every single person I encountered — from the customers in the parking lot to the cashier behind the register — was feeling much the same as me. I couldn’t wait to go to bed that night. I think something inside of me thought that maybe if I could just get to sleep, then when I woke up I’d realize that the chaos of that day had been nothing more than a bad dream. As I would find out on Wednesday morning, it was an absolute nightmare — a national one with far-reaching implications for every person on the planet: Evil is real, and there’s no way to escape its influence in our lives.

Now ten years later, I look back on 9/11 and feel things much the same that I felt on that very day. As I reflect on that dark time in our nation’s history, one thing stands out perhaps more than any other. In the few days following 9/11, people were nicer . . . friendlier . . . more grateful for the little things. In those times people turned to the church for comfort, for solace, and for answers to questions the world couldn’t seem to explain.

Like a person who suddenly lost a neighbor or friend, the whole country was made fully aware of the fragility of life, the uncertainty of tomorrow, the amazing lack of control we have over so many things. As we remember 9/11 and pray for those whose lives were irrevocably changed due to the evil plans of a few, wouldn’t it be great if we could somehow recapture that appreciation for life we all had once the fires were extinguished and the dust began to settle?

Perhaps the very best tribute we could offer on this day of remembrance would be to again hug our families tightly, do something kind for a neighbor, and thank God for the many blessings we each enjoy. The heroes who died bravely striving to save lives on that day wouldn’t want us to wallow in self-pity. They’d want us to fully embrace the wonder of this gift of life . . . to treasure each moment with family and friends . . . and to fight passionately to keep the freedom that still makes America a beacon of light today.

Surely we can muster the courage to do that. Surely.

IT’S YOUR TURN!
What 9/11 memories most stand out in your mind? What do you see as the enduring lessons from this page in our nation’s history?

While the mainstream media toggles between fostering hope and invoking gloom, the number of individuals and families impacted by this crippled economy continues to climb. Of course, the 9.1% unemployment rate is disheartening . . . but when you factor in those who are long-term unemployed (they’re not actually counted in the numbers from the Labor Department, you know) and the under-employed, the number is staggering indeed. In recent months I have noticed an increase in the average age of the servers who wait on me in restaurants and the employees who work in retail stores. So many people are now doing work for which they are grossly over-qualified because they simply cannot find a more lucrative employment option.

While the partisans in Washington and the talking heads on cable TV duke it out about where to place blame for the current situation, the cause, I believe, is more foundational than systemic. Back in 2008 when the stock market tanked and the era of the bail-outs was born, there was a lot of talk about certain corporations being ‘too big to fail.’ The reality is that nothing in this world is too big to fail.

The major problem with the US economy lies not with the chronically, hopelessly inept politicians but with the pride of our citizens. In times of relative peace and prosperity, Americans began to believe they were exceptional — by definition, meaning the exception to most rules of conventional wisdom. It seems to me that many confused the concepts of exception and exemption. Since the 80′s and 90′s were characterized by economic growth and upward mobility, Americans began to believe they were exempt from the kind of reason, morality, and common sense that were at the very foundation of our nation’s vibrancy.

Now, years later, we have begun to realize that the principle of planting and harvesting is true for us too: You reap what you sow.

Signs of the times are all around us. From the empty storefronts to the foreclosed homes to the jam-packed job fairs, America has been radically transformed into a nation in desperate need. And I’m not just talking about need of jobs either. I’m speaking of the need for spiritual renewal. Of course, in a country where 700 Christians can’t prevent a mosque from being built at Ground Zero — but one atheist can keep a cross from being displayed on a soldier’s tombstone — we are a perfect picture of a nation run amuck. Through moral relativism, religious plurality, and self-determinism, America has become a spiritually anemic society.

Please don’t mishear me. I’m not trying to say that this is the end of America as we know it; there are plenty of other people out there delivering that sobering prediction. Perhaps our greatest days are ahead of us . . . but not unless we recognize and repair the colossal cracks in our foundation. And such hope for a brighter future is entirely dependent upon returning to God.

This Labor Day, if you are blessed enough to have a job, thank God for it. If you are one of the millions of Americans who is unemployed or under-employed, know that God is real, and He cares for you. In times like these we learn painfully difficult but necessary lessons. My prayer is that the challenges of this present time will not defeat us but humble us — and ultimately make us stronger.

Don’t ever believe that America is too big to fail. We must remain hopeful, vigilant, and faithful to the One from whom all blessings flow. In the words of John Adams, Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.

As you celebrate a holiday weekend with family and friends, let’s not forget those who labor for our freedom. Our military men and women and their families deserve our prayers, our respect, and our gratitude.

(Click here for a previous post that offers tips for helping those who are unemployed.)

IT’S YOUR TURN!
What do you think about our country’s current situation? What will it take for our nation to return to God?

To be completely honest, I have to work at being intentional to get out of my own comfort zone and meet people who aren’t in the church . . . people who aren’t like me . . . people who think and feel differently about news and current events . . and people who basically process life through a whole different lens.

The reality though is that there are many people who call themselves Christians but don’t appear to be any different than the rest of the world. Spiritual immaturity is one of my biggest frustrations as a discipleship pastor — and also the very reason that I’m so passionate about spiritual growth. David Platt, in his book Radical, makes a real case for how Christians in America have in many ways missed the whole point of the gospel. While believers in many other countries are being imprisoned, persecuted, and tortured because of their faith in Jesus Christ, Christians in this country often spend their time arguing about music/worship styles, debating carpet colors, and shopping around for churches that best accommodate their consumer mentality.

I know . . . because I hear these things in my Christian bubble. Often. That’s just one more reason I’m happy to look for avenues to build relationships with non-believers and unchurched people. I believe that it is an absolute sin to focus so heavily on our wants, needs, and preferences to the eternal detriment of those in our communities who are without Christ.

Listen to these words from Platt:

“I think with the way we have unprecedented material blessing, with the way we have a culture built on self, self-esteem, self-confidence. All of these things we begin to twist the gospel into something that it is not. We make it look like us and fit into our lifestyle instead of adjusting our lifestyle to the gospel. In the process we make following Jesus more American than it is biblical. As a result there seems to be a major disconnect between what it means to follow Christ in the first century and what it means to follow Christ in our definition in the 21st century America.” – Christian Post, May 15, 2010

(To read a transcript of David’s interview with the Christian Post, click here.)

Those words are as convicting to me as they are to anyone else. I admittedly have a long way to go in my journey as a disciple. Discipleship is a process; it doesn’t happen overnight. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then you don’t have the luxury of deciding whether to be a Christian-in-name-only or a faithful disciple. Being a little bit Christian is just like being a little bit pregnant. You’re either with Him, or you’re without Him . . . and the margin for error is not what you want your eternal destiny to hinge upon.

The times in which we live are absolutely urgent! There are many in our own country who still have not heard the truth of Jesus Christ. As believers, we have one mission in life: to go and preach and make disciples. We are all to be ministers in our own context. May we be diligent to share the Good News — the reason for our blessed hope — while the Father’s mercy provides us the opportunity to do so.

And the next time you hear another Christian complaining about something trivial in the church, take a moment to pray for him or her – and then say a prayer for those brothers and sisters who truly understand what it means to share in the sufferings of Christ.

“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 2:3, ESV

For news and  information about persecuted believers, visit Voice of the Martyrs.

IT’S YOUR TURN!
What’s on your heart today? How is God speaking in your life? What are your thoughts about Christianity in America today?

Unfortunately, these are tough times for many people — and for the world as a whole. In fact, many in the world have been hurting and in need for generations. Only in recent years has our country joined the list of those nations experiencing increased poverty, increased crime, and increased fear. The number of Americans turning to antidepressants bears witness to the physical and mental toll of stress. The number of suicides in our country is rising, and the suicide rate among our military men and women now exceeds the national average.

The statistics are sobering. The prognosis is grim. However, we know that trouble is no stranger to this world. In writing to the church at Thessalonica, the apostle Paul instructed:

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18)

Let’s be honest for a minute or two. Most of us struggle with this notion of being joyful always. Western society is so focused on happiness, which is invariably dependent upon our circumstances at the moment. We understand with our heads this thing called joy, but we fail at many points to somehow separate our situation from our status as Christians, often falling prey to the prevalent message of the prosperity gospel that tells us God blesses us because we do good. I’ve been unable to locate the basis for that message anywhere in the pages of Scripture; perhaps that’s because it doesn’t come from there at all.

As Christians, none of us are exempt from the problems of this life. Just think about the many troubles that plague us:

• Unemployment
• Health issues
• Crime
• Family conflict
• Financial stress
• Moral ruin
• Wars

The list goes on and on and on. Whether you realize it or not, this collection of issues poses a very real threat to life as we know it. While the news media tries its best to put a positive spin on the world situation (particularly the US economy), the facts just continue to mount up, pointing to the grim reality that the ‘new normal’ will require us to live with less. And less, I believe, is not in and of itself a bad thing; that is, so long as our faith is not in the stuff of this life.

I contend that the majority of people in our nation, Christians included, have become so enamored — if not consumed – with the trappings of this world that we just can’t imagine having to surrender some of the things we enjoy most: our smart phones, our designer coffees, our big houses, our fancy cars, etc. The truth is that for many of us, we probably won’t have to surrender them; they’ll just become irrelevant to us as our need for the essentials in life becomes greater. Ultimately, we’re all going to have less trouble distinguishing between our wants and our needs.

As I ponder our world situation, with its perpetual drumbeat focused on globalism, I’m reminded that God is bringing everything under His purpose and plan. He does not forget His people. He is not surprised by the corruption of man. He is not perplexed and in a quandry as to how to make things better. Quite the contrary! He provided a plan for us many years ago, a plan that would result in the sacrifice of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. And God is not the least bit concerned with making things better for us — at least not as we so often think of ‘better,’ in terms of wealth and material possessions.

The imminent collapse of the US economy will present a myriad of challenges for us all, the likes of which have not been experienced since the Great Depression. I believe the impact will be much greater though, because the gap between our debt-driven standard of living and our eventual fall will be absolutely unparalleled. The difficult days ahead may indeed find those who profess Christ persecuted as well. These days will serve as a fire through which the hearts of true believers are refined and their loyalties laid bare for all to see. We can expect to more closely relate to those who have sacrificed the stuff of this world in order to share the message of salvation with people whose standard of living actually allowed for an openness to the Gospel. In the end, it will be the missionaries who may experience less distress from the fall-out of the global economy because they never became hooked on the insatiable cravings for more that so characterize the American way of life.

Of course, this post is really supposed to be about Thanksgiving. When Thursday comes, we’ll have all witnessed the President pardoning the turkey. We’ll have scouted out the best places to get deals on the latest greatest foreign-made gadgets. And we’ll have stuffed our bellies with a feast fit for a king. Let’s enjoy it — and give thanks to the One from whom all blessings flow. Just do so mindful of the fact that you might not realize just how grateful you really are until that bounty of blessings begins to disappear.

Perhaps we should practice now what we should have practiced all along — a steady dose of thanksgiving for all the things that really do matter most: our family, our friends, our health, our freedom, and most of all, our salvation through Jesus Christ. These are the intangibles of life, the blessings that demand our gratitude.

As you gather together with friends and family this Thanksgiving, I encourage you to take the time to offer heartfelt thanks to God for the blessings you enjoy. Prayerfully remember those who are hungry, homeless, and hurting in a multitude of ways. Consider the ones who are serving their country far from those they love, and pray for the missionaries who are working tirelessly to share the message of salvation to a world very much in need.

I am more grateful this year than I’ve ever been. And that is as it should be every year, no matter what.

IT’S YOUR TURN!
What are you most thankful for this year? How do you distinguish between happiness and joy?

I took a few minutes of my time and cast my votes in the 2010 mid-term election. It truly didn’t take more than 10 minutes, and apart from phone calls, letters, and emails to our elected officials, it’s the ONE thing every one of us can do to make our voices heard. My prayer is that by exercising this right, we can say good-bye to many of those ‘representatives’ who for the past several years have shown an increasing antipathy for ‘We the People’ whose votes put them in places of power. I wouldn’t go so far as to speculate that this election is America’s only hope, because we know that with God all things are possible. However, I do believe that our country is on a trajectory that will lead to absolute ruin — socially, morally, and financially — if some major changes don’t begin to happen quickly.

Still, whether you think like I do — or whether you’re one of the ones who thinks everything in the US is just peachy — I urge you to exercise your right to vote. It’s a right that has been secured by the blood, sweat, and tears of generations of Americans. And it’s a right that, if not protected, might someday be taken away.

I know, you’re just one little person in this big ol’ country. And while that is true, I still believe that one person can make a difference. Regardless of the weather, regardless of your energy level, regardless of the fact that in many cases we really do end up choosing the least stinky of the two or three candidates — get out and vote! Make a difference today.

As Edmund Burke so wisely put it, “The only thing necessary to the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”

IT’S YOUR TURN!
Do you still believe that one person makes a difference? Why do you choose to vote — or not vote?

While I’m tempted to write about my own such story in this space, today I’ll seek to answer a different and perhaps more important question: “Where are you now?” And I don’t mean physically or geographically.

Today I’m more of a lot of things.

I’m a more observant person . . . much more sensitive to issues of safety and security. I’m also far less likely to think, “Oh, that (whatever that may be) couldn’t happen here.” It did once. It can again.

I’m a more grateful person . . . much more aware of the people who help keep me and my family safe on a daily basis. The 9-1-1 dispatchers, the police officers, the firefighters, the paramedics, the troopers, etc. Like the sashing of a quilt, these men and women provide an invaluable and often overlooked framework for our communities. I’m also more grateful for those who boldly serve in our military — defending our freedom and seeking to provide stability to nations abroad.

I’m a more humble person . . . much more understanding that there are very few things in life over which I have control. God has the whole world in His hands, just as the childhood song explains.

I’m a more driven person . . . much more appreciative of the urgency of this life. Every moment counts. Every relationship matters.

I’m a more compassionate person . . . much more able to experience the thoughts, stories, and situations of others — even those with whom I strongly disagree.

I’m a more expressive person . . . much more willing to say, ‘I love you,’ ‘I’m sorry,’ ‘Will you forgive me?’ Perhaps this dovetails with that sense of urgency I mentioned earlier.

I’m a more informed person . . . much more able to identify particularly with those who were in New York City at the time of the attacks on the World Trade Center. There’s nothing like seeing the vast barrenness of Ground Zero with your own eyes, as I did early last year. And to think that two huge towers once stood there, tall and proud, each an integral party of the city’s skyline.

Today I’m also less of a lot of things.

I’m less bothered by those airport security procedures. They’re far from perfect, but hopefully they are helping keep us safe.

I’m less tolerant of those who are bothered by my own patriotism. If you don’t like our country, then feel free to find a new one. And by all means, don’t waste your time trying to ‘radically transform’ mine.

I’m less concerned with people’s reactions to my emotions. Sometimes I’m sad. Sometimes I cry. It’s all a normal part of the human experience.

I’m less trusting of our news media and our government. There seems to me an amazing disconnect between those covering the news and those experiencing it . . . between those making laws and those who are stuck living with them.

I’m less committed to a particular political party and more devoted to the specific values I hold dear.

I’m less convinced that my children’s lifestyle will be better than my own — and more accepting of the notion that perhaps it doesn’t need to be.

I’m less passionate about advancing my individual goals and more mindful of my role in advancing God’s Kingdom. I’m also even more confident of His loving care, sovereign hand, and constant companionship in these uncertain days.

Yes, things are definitely different than they were nine years ago. Some of these differences are probably due to the natural process of aging and maturity; some of them are no doubt due to the previously unimaginable events of September 11, 2001.

Each of us processes things uniquely. We all draw our own conclusions, nurture our own beliefs, and devise our own coping strategies.

One thing though is true for all of us: We will never be the same.

IT’S YOUR TURN!
What’s different for you nine years later? How have you changed?

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What do you think? Join the discussion on our Facebook page. See more from Prager about the greatest single threat to our nation by clicking here.

And while I personally enjoyed the distraction, I must admit that it will take more than fireworks and franks to get my mind off these colossal issues that threaten to choke the very life from our republic should a sharp and effective course correction not be made — and soon.

If you read this blog often, then you know that I am a huge advocate for personal responsibility. In contrast to the philosophies opined in the news media, pointing fingers and assigning blame is truly of little help. That’s where the church comes in.

You see, I believe that Christians have a responsibility to do something phenomenal in today’s American society — something that could radically transform the face of the Church as we know it. And yes, I understand that few facets of our economy have been so hard-hit financially as churches and non-profit organizations. When the budget gets squeezed at home, those expenses are among the first deemed ‘discretionary’ — like it or not. Just yesterday I was contacted by yet another ministry colleague whose staff position will be eliminated at the end of the year.

As a realist and a pragmatist, I struggle with optimism. I’m a pretty black-and-white kind of guy. I’m fine with calling a spade a spade, although I probably won’t waste my time trying to convince those who don’t necessarily see things my way. But here’s what I think: I believe that the church in 21st century America has the potential to transform society in ways not seen since the days of the early church, as described in the book of Acts.

As states follow the nation’s lead and assume higher and higher levels of debt, vital services will be significantly reduced, if not eliminated altogether. These services include healthcare, counseling, education, and childcare. And there are ways for the Church to step up to the plate and assume responsibility for filling in the gaps that, quite frankly, it should have been doing all along.

Somewhere along the way, the American Church began to take on the attitude of its typical parishioners. The Church began to believe that its effectiveness was largely dependent upon some of the most superficial things — like state-of-the-art facilities, larger-than-life personalities, highly specialized niche ministries, and entertainment-based programming.

In fact, I would argue that this is still the model of the local church that many so-called pastors, priests, or shepherds would esteem as the pinnacle of success.

They would be wrong. Dead wrong.

As American religious life evolved, many of the seeker-sensitive churches of the 80′s and 90′s made a very subtle, in fact, almost indiscernible transition. They moved from seeker-sensitive to consumer-driven. I suppose that once these churches reached ‘seekers,’ then those individuals continued to expect church to be all about them instead of all about Him. Consequently, the landscape of this great nation is now littered with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of churches that don’t know what to do or how to cope when the money goes away and the lights go out.

I have an idea. I think that it’s then that the Church should best be positioned to tell the world, in effect, “It’s showtime!”

It’s time to show the world that this Gospel we preach is real, is relevant, and is right here. It’s time to show the world that the message we carry is not hindered by a weakened economy — not if we’re really passionate about the message in the first place. It’s time to prove once and for all that if a few ordinary fishermen with no formal training and no budgetary funds can reach people for Christ, then so can we!

Will things improve in America? Well, I guess that all depends on how we define improvement. Do I think the economy is going to take off again and let us enjoy the perks and privileges of being a nation of plenty? No, I emphatically do not believe that. We have essentially kicked God out of our schools, our courts, and our public gatherings in order to satisfy the outcries of a few literally misguided souls. Consequently, I think that God is working out His purposes, and our comfort level is of no concern to Him whatsoever.

However, I do believe that the Church is going to see drastic improvement. I think that improvement will center around four major shifts in the life of our local churches, some of which are transitioning even now:

1. Ministry as we know it will look and feel very different than it does in many of our churches today. We will be forced to view our budget in the light of greatly limited resources. The glitz and glamour of entertainment-based programming will be replaced by ministries that meet the very real physical and spiritual needs of people who are discovering what humility really means.

2. Ministry will become increasingly community-based. In fact, many churches will have no building at all.

3. True believers will be identified only after the faux ‘Christians’ fall away. I hate to say it so bluntly, but the churches in this nation are filled with people who will be stunned and amazed to find that their pet project or ministry must take a back-seat to more hands-on and real-world ministry. The sad truth is that our churches will be better off without them, because to the faux ‘Christians,’ it was never ‘all about Him’ in the first place.

4. As God allows our nation to go through this period of change, the Church will be marked by renewed passion, sharper focus, and more intentional ministry. As a result, we will see people won to Christ because of a true spiritual hunger that for so long has been numbed by a steady diet of materialism and pride. Talk about feeding the monster!

Now please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not a prophet, a priest, or a king. These are merely my thoughts and impressions, albeit after a period of prayer and searching. I could be wrong. And I certainly wouldn’t claim to lay out a timetable for all this. Besides, God could hear and answer the prayers of His people and restore this land to a place of wealth and luxury that we could only dream of. But when I think about how He lived among us during His ministry, I don’t think of extraordinary; I think of extra ordinary.

Plain. Simple. Humble.

So, I guess the answer to our prayers is entirely dependent upon what it is we’re praying. Are you praying for God to stem the tide, protect your assets, and keep you comfortable and secure? Or are you praying for God to do whatever it takes to get people’s attention, that they might see Him and believe before it is too late?

The truth is that, according to Scripture, sooner or later everyone is going to confess Him as Lord. My job as a believer is to pray that God will do whatever it takes – and use me as He will – to make sure that as many people as possible confess, “Jesus is Lord” on this side of eternity.

When this life draws to an end, that’s the only thing that will matter anyway.

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On this Independence Day, I offer a few of my favorite quotations:

• Freedom is a possession of inestimable value. – Cicero
     
• If our democracy is to flourish, it must have criticism; if our government is to function it must have dissent. – Henry Commager
       
• True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made. – Franklin D. Roosevelt
      
• Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time. – Sir Winston Churchill

• And so, my fellow americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. – John F. Kennedy

• Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin

• I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. – James Madison
       
• On account of being a democracy and run by the people, we are the only nation in the world that has to keep a government four years, no matter what it does. – Will Rogers
       
• In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved. – Franklin D. Roosevelt
         
• The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. – Thomas Jefferson
        
• Americans are a free people, who know that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. The liberty we prize is not America’s gift to the world; it is God’s gift to humanity. – George W. Bush
          
• The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter. - Sir Winston Churchill
        
• There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure. – Dwight D. Eisenhower
         
• Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free. – Ronald Reagan

• A society that puts equality… ahead of freedom will end up with neither.  – Milton Friedman
       
• Democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There was never a democracy that did not commit suicide. - John Adams
        
• The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment. - Robert Maynard Hutchins
       
• Democracy is, first and foremost, a spiritual force, it is built upon a spiritual basis – and on a belief in God and an observance of moral principle. And in the long run only the church can provide that basis. Our founder knew this truth – and we will neglect it at our peril. – Harry S. Truman
        
• I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death. - Patrick Henry

Me too, Patrick. Me too.

Happy birthday, America . . . and best wishes and fervent prayers for many more.