From the Pulpit…

America, You’ve Got to Love It

Our nation is 242 years old this year, and we have the freedom, among other things, to poke fun at ourselves and our country! America, you’ve got to love it! We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons. We leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our junk in the garage. We make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions, while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front. In the city, a pizza gets to our house faster than an ambulance, and people order double cheeseburgers, large fries and a Diet Coke.
242 years of existence to develop such freedoms seems like a lot of time, but compared to other nations, we are just a child. And yet we stand tall among these countries because of the principles on which we were established: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” (Declaration of Independence).
I still believe in the USA. Something still happens to me when I see people waving flags and hear patriotic songs being sung. Call me optimistic, but I still believe in one nation under God. In God I still trust. And I still celebrate the Fourth of July and anticipate fireworks as part of that celebration.
I want to tell you that I still anticipate fireworks out of my faith as well. Did you know that there is approximately the same amount of gunpowder in a firecracker as in a rifle shell? The firecracker’s explosion power is unfocused, and makes a loud noise. The rifle shell, on the other hand, focuses that power in a specific direction and delivers an enormous punch. One makes a lot of noise. The other gets results. It's a matter of focus. It’s a matter of what’s needed or what’s desired.
We can be a firecracker Christian or a rifle shot Christian. One makes a lot of noise. The other gets results. The third option is to be a fireworks Christian.
Fireworks begin by focusing power to get them to a desired location and then explode with all kinds of ways to catch people’s attention and amaze them in all kinds of wonderful ways.
There is too much to be done here in our corner of God's world for us to quit taking risks and stepping out on faith. Our calling is to go forth into the world with the authority we receive from God and make explosive things happen.
You see, I still anticipate fireworks. I still anticipate miracles. I still anticipate excitement and enthusiasm, healing, and conversion. I expect fireworks to happen every time God calls us and sends us out. I expect my faith and my church to make a difference in my world. And I want you to expect it, too!
I believe the colonists trusted and depended on God when they made and adopted the Declaration of Independence. Because of their trust, God blessed us as a nation. I believe that if we remember to trust and depend on God today, God will use us to make fireworks happen; and again, God will bless us as a nation.