Change happens. This month I officially retired, and there is a new minister shepherding First United Methodist of Monticello. He is excited and full of energy and the Spirit of God. I invite you to come check him out and experience some of the blessing our community will have through him and his young family joining us!
Change happens, most times for the good. Two days ago, I retired. 243 years ago, our nation declared its independence.
Sometimes, however, change presents a challenge. 232 years ago, on June 28, 1787, Benjamin Franklin addressed President George Washington and delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pa.
Part of his address included the following:
“In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance?
I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall be become a reproach and a bye word down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.
I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service.”
Would that we would always implore the assistance of heaven and God’s blessings on our deliberations and endeavors!
Call me optimistic, but I still believe in the USA. I still believe in one nation under God. In God I still trust. I believe our founding leaders trusted and depended on God when they made and adopted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. 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 great things happen; and again, God will bless us as a nation.
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