HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA

More and more of our liberties are being taken away. Makes me think a little about the frog in the pot that didn't notice how hot the water was getting until it was too late. I think that is what is happening. Many do notice, but way too many are apathetic to what is happening. I'm afraid they don't even want to think about it. The above graphic was shared on Facebook and if you go there you probably saw it more than once. This truth is displayed in such a beautiful way that I decided I wanted to share it here on my blog. My goodness. How I have neglected my blogs since I got addicted to Facebook. Amazing.

Many blessings to all who come here for a visit.

God Bless America?

Patriotism is being displayed in the United States this week as flags will be flying all over the place in celebration of our independence. Americans have been celebrating since way back in 1776. There are some in our country now though, who think we should not honor this day, or the flag. Seems it is getting more popular with the PC crowd (and I don't mean personal computer) to want to do away with any displays of allegiance to America. Who would have ever thought that saying the Pledge of Allegiance in our schools would ever be challenged? They managed to take the Bible and God out of our public schools. Next it will probably be against the law to display the American flag in our classrooms. After all, it might offend somebody. Well, I know someone who is terribly offended, and the liberal left couldn't care less. That someone is me. I am offended that in order to keep from offending one person that thousands, and probably millions, like me are offended.

Back to the title of this post. My opinion is that God has blessed America like He has blessed no other country in the history of the world. He has blessed America because it was founded on the principles found in His book. He was acknowledged in our government. He was acknowledged in our schools, in our homes and in our churches and synagogues. In God We Trust has been our national motto. Now I'm wondering, "Is God withdrawing his blessings from America?" I was impressed with the response that Billy Graham's daughter Anne Lotz made after 9/11. When asked why she thinks God would allow something like this to happen, Lotz replied, "I say God is also angry when he sees something like this. I would say also for several years now Americans in a sense have shaken their fist at God and said, God, we want you out of our schools, our government, our business, we want you out of our marketplace. And God, who is a gentleman, has just quietly backed out of our national and political life, our public life. Removing his hand of blessing and protection. We need to turn to God first of all and say, God, we're sorry we have treated you this way and we invite you now to come into our national life. We put our trust in you. We have our trust in God on our coins, we need to practice it." I certainly agree with her. I hope America wakes up before it's too late. If we want God to bless America, America had better start blessing God.

MEMORIES OF 9/11

I found this on the Guidepost website and wanted to share it. I think I would like to read the book. You will need to scroll down and turn off the music on my sidebar before viewing the video.

AMERICA WILL NEVER FORGET

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYONE! Hamburgers, hot dogs, watermelon and homemade strawberrry ice cream are on our menu for today. What makes it special is our kids will be with us. But, before that, we will worship God with thousands of other Christians. It's almost time to go now. Have a great day and a great week.

AIRPORT BREAKFAST

We hadn't been to the Deer Valley Airport restaurant in quite awhile and had heard that it had recently been remodeled, so we decided to drive out there this morning for breakfast. For those not acquainted with Deer Valley, it's in far north Phoenix, a small airport where you can sit in the restaurant, eat and watch the planes, mostly very small ones, take off and land. It's really quite interesting and the food is pretty good. One of the new things in the remodeled restaurant was this beautiful mural. Of course I had my camera with me and couldn't resist taking a picture and sharing it here.

Notice the small model airplanes hanging from the ceiling? Someone donated their collection of model airplanes to the airport several years ago. There are hundreds of them hanging everywhere in the airport -- very interesting.

Hope everyone is having a good summer. I can't believe the 4th of July is almost here. It won't be long till Christmas. LOL

THERE'S A STAR SPANGLED BANNER WAVING SOMEWHERE

For some reason this song has been running through my mind for awhile. I don't know why. I haven't even heard or thought about it in ages. So, I looked it up online. I looked for a video of the song but haven't found it yet. I'll keep looking. The song was written in 1942. I remember hearing it often as a child. Just thinking about the song and singing it in my head brings a lump to my throat right now.

I can remember when it was "cool" to be patriotic. We got a little of that back after 9/11, but it didn't last very long. I'm looking forward to the day when we have a president again who is patriotic; one who is proud and not ashamed of America. I love this quote from Ronald Reagan, "Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came because the US was too strong."

THERE'S A STAR SPANGLED BANNER WAVING SOMEWHERE

There's a Star-Spangled Banner waving somewhere

In a distant land so many miles away.
Only Uncle Sam's great heroes get to go there
Where I wish that I could also live some day.
I'd see Lincoln, Custer, Washington and Perry,
And Nathan Hale and Colin Kelly, too.
There's a Star-Spangled Banner waving somewhere,
Waving o'er the land of heroes brave and true.
In this war with its mad schemes of destruction

Of our country fair and our sweet liberty,
By the mad dictators, leaders of corruption,
Can't the U. S. use a mountain boy like me?
God gave me the right to be a free American,
And for that precious right I'd gladly die.
There's a Star-Spangled Banner waving somewhere,
That is where I want to live when I die.

Though I realize I'm crippled, that is true, sir,

Please don't judge my courage by my twisted leg.
Let me show my Uncle Sam what I can do, sir,
Let me help to bring the Axis down a peg.
If I do some great deed I will be a hero,
And a hero brave is what I want to be.
There's a Star-Spangled Banner waving somewhere,
In that heaven there should be a place for me.

I kept looking and found this video. Not the best quality, but it's not bad. It has the sound of an old record played on an old fashioned record player. Since today is Flag Day I thought this would be a good time to share it.

When Hubby came through the room and heard the video playing, he paused and then he mentioned that when he was a kid he went around singing that song all the time. He said he thought he sang it pretty good. I'm sure he did. I think all the kids were singing it in the '40s. Those were the days.

SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS - MEMORIAL DAY

I Am a Soldier
By Neal T. Lesh

I am a soldier born to follow or lead.
To serve my country in time of its need;
To protect our great nation with my heart and my soul
To preserve our new freedoms was one of my goals.

I joined in the struggle [a new nation to forge]
And fought with my brethren to run off King George
Severely outnumbered, Red Coats everywhere,
To continue the fighting was so hard to bear.

Finally it was over; fighting came to a close
From the ashes of tyranny a new nation arose
I returned to my family no longer a boy
But a man and a soldier with a heart full of joy.

I am a soldier, keeping rifle at hand
In defense of our people as we open new land
I have sworn to protect with all of my might
A republic of freedom based on that which is right.

I am a soldier who is sickened at heart
At a nation in danger of breaking apart
More than just vanity has brought us this far;
Fighting brother on brother in a great civil war

There will never be peace in the land of the free
If we fail as a nation in the wisdom to see
That our constitution provides for each man's equal due
Not just for the many at the expense of a few.

I am a soldier, who has fought the Great War,
In the trenches of France with a passion to score
In the name of what's holy in the name of what's right
Against enemies of liberty, I carried my fight.

From the beaches of Normandy to Iwo Jima’s sand,
Soldiers died by the thousands in some far distant land
They had shared noble reasons for the lives that they gave---
For the land of the free and the home of the brave.

I am a soldier, not a demon, as some people believe
For it's not in my nature to kill and cause grief
I would rather take up a far greater cause,
Turning sword into plowshare without even pause.

It's a much better world when we sleep and devise
 All those wonderful musings where our hopes come alive
I am a soldier with conscience and I wish that I knew
How to use all my power to make dreams come true.

I am a soldier standing guard through the night
Supported by others who join in the fight
To do what it takes we work as a team
So others can share in America's dream.
 
There are those in this world full of anger and hate
Who'd tear down our country; they now stand at our gate.
That so many people have died at their hand
Should send out a signal throughout our great land.


I will take up this battle for the families who cried
For  the loss of their loved ones who needlessly died.
Yes, I am a soldier and I’d die if need be,
For your right to be happy and your right to be free.

Dedicated to all who lost their lives as defenders of our country and our way of life in the attack on the Pentagon, Washington, DC. September 11, 2001 

I am so thankful to God for all those who have served to gain and to preserve the freedom of our great country and I want to share this poem about soldiers with you today for Spiritual Sundays. Click HERE to go to our Spiritual Sunday blog to share or be blessed by what others have shared there.

PREPARATION FOR MEMORIAL DAY

It is the

VETERAN 

not the preacher,

who has given us freedom of religion.

It is

the VETERAN

not the reporter,

who has given us freedom of the press.

It is

the VETERAN

not the campus organizer,

who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is

the VETERAN

not the lawyer,

who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is

the VETERAN,

not the politician,

Who has given us the right to vote.

It is the

VETERAN who

salutes the Flag,

It is 

the VETERAN

who serves

under the Flag,

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD,

AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

GOD

Bless them all!!!

I also want to pay tribute to my dear uncle Emmet, a veteran of WWII. 

WE NEED THE FACTS

Let Us Never Forget

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

If you have not viewed the video in my last post, I hope you will watch it. We need God in America again.

FLAGS - Wordless Wednesday

Judge Roy Moore

Some may be wondering what Judge Roy Moore is doing these days. He's the Alabama judge who was removed from the bench for refusing to remove the Ten Commandments from his courtroom.

I received an email about this from an old friend just now and thought it worthy to post on my blog.

I found this website for Judge Moore and thought it was interesting. You can click HERE if you would like to check it out.

Following is a poem written by the judge.

America the beautiful,

or so you used to be.

Land of the Pilgrims' pride;

I'm glad they'll never see.

Babies piled in dumpsters,

Abortion on demand,

Oh, sweet land of liberty;

your house is on the sand.

Our children wander aimlessly

poisoned by cocaine

choosing to indulge their lusts,

when God has said abstain

From sea to shining sea,

our Nation turns away

From the teaching of God's love

and a need to always pray

We've kept God in our

temples,how callous we have grown.

When earth is but His footstool,

and Heaven is His throne.

We've voted in a government

that's rotting at the core,

Appointing Godless Judges;

who throw reason out the door,

Too soft to place a killer

in a well deserved tomb,

But brave enough to kill a baby

before he leaves the womb.

You think that God's not

angry,that our land's a moral slum?

How much longer will He wait

before His judgment comes?

How are we to face our God,

from Whom we cannot hide?

What then is left for us to do,

but stem this evil tide?

If we who are His children,

will humbly turn and pray;

Seek His holy face

and mend our evil way:

Then God will hear from Heaven;

and forgive us of our sins,

He'll heal our sickly land

and those who live within.

But, America the Beautiful,

If you don't - then you will see,

A sad but Holy God

withdraw His hand from Thee. 

~~Judge Roy Moore~~

This says it all. May we all forward this message and offer our prayers for Judge Moore to be blessed and for America to wake up and realize what we need to do to keep OUR  America the Beautiful.

Pass this on and let's lift Judge Moore up in Prayer. He has stood firm and needs our support.

IN GOD WE TRUST

Important Message

SOMETHING TO PONDER

I liked what this e-mail from a long time friend said so I'm passing it on to you. Looks to me like this is exactly where we are headed - and fast.

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom.  What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

 

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.  You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

 

~~~~~ Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931 - 2005 ~~~~~

AMERICA IS STILL A GREAT COUNTRY

The following quote is supposedly from David Letterman. I find that hard to believe, but whether it originated from him or not, it is "thought provoking". Here is the e-mail that I received this morning. 

      - Charlotte

No matter what your political convictions are this is an eye opener ... What a thankless people we are!!!

David Letterman, on President Bush. (Surprising)

David Letterman wrote this; it's the David we don't often see ...

'As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.'


'The other day I was reading Newsweek  magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe.  It must be true given the  source, right?
The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of  the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?'

A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?

B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time  and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state.

F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

K. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and  pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all -volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it ... are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable" discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans?

Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids sell ing lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sell s, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way ... Insane!

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New
York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.' 'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, 'Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

-David Letterman
 

TIME FOR CHRISTIANS TO SERIOUSLY PRAY

As stated above, I am doing my posting on a new blog now, but I see that quite a lot of people are still coming here to this blog and so I want to post the following admonition I received today in a forwarded email from a good friend. I totally agree with these thoughts and I have been praying many times every day about this situation, but I think we cannot pray too much and I want to encourage more people to really think seriously about the situation at hand. Voting is just a few days away. I did not write this, but I wish I had.

This is ONLY for those people who believe in the power of prayer... Can we?

Will we?

I was very dismayed when, recently, a member of my Church said to me with great resignation that she was afraid Obama will take the presidency. These words came from someone that in the past has been a great prayer warrior.

What is happening was my question!! Why are we Christians settling for the loss of our Christian heritage, not issuing a battle cry and falling to our knees and taking our country back?

We allow ourselves to be stripped of the right to pray at school functions and in school, we have the Ten Commandments removed from government places and are told we cannot pray publicly or proclaim Christian principles, all the while providing public prayer places for Muslims. We allow Muslim mosques to operate in America funded by Saudi Arabia , and proclaim anti-American, anti-Christian threats and terrorism.

What in the world is going on and why are we being so apathetic? Why aren't we praying? Our God is an Almighty God who is waiting patiently for us to raise our voices to heaven to stop the tide of the anti-Christian actions in our world today.

Now we have a charismatic, albeit inexperienced, candidate for president that does not respect our flag and refuses to wear one on his lapel except when it becomes politically expedient, and whose own wife and pastor that he loves profess to have strong anti-white feelings, and

we sit back and say 'it is a given, we can do nothing' ????

There has never been a time in 2000 years that we can do nothing, never a time that we must sit back and allow the evil in men's and women's hearts to take over our world! We should be afraid, very afraid because our apathy is leading us to perdition. It is time for all Christian Americans to raise the battle cry and take our nation back!

Maybe McCain on his own cannot defeat Obama, but our God can and He will if we take to our knees in prayer and raise a mighty cry to the heavens. We have the power to change the course of this election and to keep a man as suspect as Barak Obama from leading our country to who knows where with his message of 'change'; a change which I fear will be away from our Christian ideals, and away from Christ, and further away from one nation under God to one nation under Allah.

We are great at passing stories and pictures around the internet, but where are our prayers and prayer warriors praying to stop this tide of Barak Obama? We can bring our country back to its Christian roots and stop the undermining of our country by Muslims. We can stop our country from being 'under Allah' but we must begin to pray; to pray as our country and our lives depended on it because they do. We can stop all these atrocities against God's commandments that have taken root in our country through something as simple as sincere prayer, a call to God to deliver us, to protect us from the evil that is upon us.

OK, prayer warriors, here is your challenge... Start those prayer chains. Get the spiritual power working on our behalf and stop Barak Obama the proper way, by calling on our God to save us from the deception that charismatic preaching is using to lead us on the wrong path. Stop those who would take God out of our country and our government. Raise up good men to lead us and protect us. But we should not rest on our laurels and allow ourselves to be taken further off the path of Christianity and to have God removed from our presence in our schools, courts,

government and businesses.

Invite God into the fray. Ask that His power rest upon us and give us the victory. Ask him to raise up a mighty army to defend us and to protect our country as he did in days of old. Let us be victorious beginning NOW. The battle is His but we must call on Him without ceasing and

unite our voices and hearts in prayer and fasting.

Please pass this around to all people of prayer that you know and maybe, just maybe, we'll bring a victory for us and ultimately for Him. AMEN!