Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Noah Webster, Bible Believer

Noah WebsterImage via Wikipedia
Noah Webster was a brilliant man. He is best known for his dictionary, Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828 Edition, which is still in use today. He created a textbook nicknamed the "Blue-Backed Speller." It was the most widely used textbook in America for a hundred years.

Clearly, Webster was an expert on educating children, and this is what he said about the Bible.

"The Bible must be considered as the great source of all the truth by which men are to be guided in government as well as in all social transactions. . . ."

"All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible. . . ."

Noah Webster gave us the following advice concerning our responsibility as citizens of America.

"When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, "just men who will rule in the fear of God."

The preservation of [our] government depends on the faithful discharge of this Duty; if the citizens neglect their Duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizen will be violated or disregarded.

If [our] government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine Commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the Laws." (History of the United States by Noah Webster)


Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Abraham Lincoln, Bible Believer

One of the last photographs of Abraham Lincoln.Image via Wikipedia


"More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." Alfred Lord Tennyson

In 1863, the United States of America was losing the War Between the States.

In fact, things were so bad that the US Congress decided that the entire nation ought to appeal to God for help. They passed a resolution to designate April 30, 1863, as a national day of prayer and fasting.

Although he is much better known for his Emancipation Proclamation, President Lincoln signed the following proclamation into law on March 30, 1863.

Whereas, the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the Supreme Authority and just Government of Almighty God, in all the affairs of men and of nations, has, by a resolution, requested the President to designate and set apart a day for National prayer and humiliation.

And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord.

And, insomuch as we know that, by His divine law, nations like individuals are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment, inflicted upon us, for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole People? We have been the recipents of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us!

It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.

Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do, by this my proclamation, designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th. day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting and prayer. And I do hereby request to all the People to abstain, on that day, from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite, at their several places of public worship and their respective homes, in keeping the day holy to the Lord, and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.

All this being done, in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humble in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the Nation will be heard on high, and answered with blessings, no less than the pardon of our national sins, and the restoration of our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace.

The question is, did God make any response to the prayers of his people? Yes, he did. Approximately sixty days later, during the first week of July, 1863, the United States won two major battles. The Battle of Vicksburg and the Battle of Gettysburg were the turning points of the war. The people who prevailed in these battles were the ones who were united in their appeal to heaven.

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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Patrick Henry, Bible Believer

Patrick HenryImage via Wikipedia

I went to the Tax Day Tea Party with my daughter Jennifer and her daughters Katie, 8, Beverly,10, and Haley ,12. This was a homeschool project for them.

We felt like we were participating in American History, instead of just reading about it. We were excited to be a part of the millions of Americans across America who want to preserve our God-given rights.

We saw several men carrying "Don't Tread on Me" flags. Others were wearing three-cornered hats. It reminded me of the song "Yankee Doodle."
"And there we saw the men and boys as thick as hasty pudding," I quoted. Then, I had to explain to the kids that this is a song about the gathering of troops under General George Washington.

We heard several local leaders and were inspired by what they said. It was a refreshing experience to hear good things about America, and to hear them spoken in the open air.

On the way home, we were talked about what we had heard. I remembered Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty or give me death" speech. I knew that it was one of the greatest speeches ever given. Like most other people in America, I had no idea what is in it.

When we got home, we read it and were amazed by what it says. It is not a political speech, it is a powerful sermon. Patrick Henry is assuring the others that God will help them to win the Revolutionary War. And what he said was true. God did help them and deliver them from slavery to the King of England.
This speech is such a treasure that I have to share it with you. Here are the two final paragraphs.

"Three millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battle alone. There is an just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. . . . The war is inevitable--and let it come. I repeat it sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentleman may cry, Peace, peace--but there is no peace. . . . Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

What makes this speech so great? It is the passion that the man conveys to us in expressing his faith in God. It comes through even on the printed page. Patrick Henry's voice still rings true and he still speaks to the true American patriot. He knew that God always intervenes on behalf of his people. And when God is helping us, we cannot lose.

We are facing some problems today with our government, but they are nothing compared to what the Founding Fathers went through. The same God who gave them victory in the American Revolution is available to help us today.
Where can we find the godly men and women of today? Are you one of them? Are you willing to do something to help preserve our liberty and freedom? Are you willing to humble yourself before God, and pray, and seek his face, and turn from your wicked ways?

God has promised us that if we, his people, who are called by his name, will do these things, he will hear us and he will heal our land. Every Christian in America ought to do these things right away.

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Thursday, April 23, 2009

Benjamin Franklin, Bible Believer

Portrait of Benjamin FranklinImage via Wikiped


Benjamin Franklin was eighty-one years old at the time of the Constitutional Convention. He knew that if it had not been for God, we could not have defeated the most powerful military force in the world, and won our independence from Great Britain.

The delegates were unable to agree on anything at first. Then, they adopted Franklin's motion to begin each session by praying together. With God's help, they put together the American Constitution, and created our government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

The following is part of what Benjamin Franklin said to the Founders of the United States of America.

"How has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with G. 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. . . . 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 the house, they labor in vain that build it.' I firmly believe this; . . . "

There can be no disputing the fact that Benjamin Franklin believed in God. He trusted and depended on him. He prayed to him daily, and was, most definitely, a Bible believer.






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Monday, April 20, 2009

What's In It For You?

When you become a Bible believer, God's loving-kindness toward you never ends. His mercy endures forever. He cannot lie, and in his word he has promised that he will hear your prayers. He will meet all your needs. He will give you the desires of your heart. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will protect you and deliver you from trouble. He will help you, comfort you, and heal you. He will adopt you as his own dear child. And when you die, he will take you home to live with him forever.

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