Are Freedom and Liberty Important to You?

“Give me liberty, or give me death!” said Patrick Henry.

“Live Free or Die!” is the New Hampshire State Motto.

On Monday we humbly acknowledge Veteran’s Day and all those who have fought, bled and died to protect our freedoms. How passionate are you about liberty?  Is protecting it a consideration for you when you vote?

Politicians talk a good game about freedom and/or liberty, but listen carefully to what they are really saying.  It might not be what you think.  What do freedom and liberty mean to you?  Here are some thoughts.

Freedom applies to the individual. You are free to think, believe and say what you want. These are matters of conscience and reflect your deeply held convictions.  But people do not live in solitude; we are social beings.

Liberty is what freedom in community looks like; it is what determines how we interact with each other.  Think of liberty as “freedom plus morality.”  American morality has been historically grounded in our Judeo-Christian heritage, but today it seems more strongly influenced by contemporary culture.

I recently read an article about how the word “freedom” has been used more frequently over the past 100 years than “liberty,” especially in progressive circles.  “Liberty” was the more popular word up until the 20th century.  Why the shift?  Sadly, I think this is just another sign that  American culture is abandoning God and replacing Him with government.

Unless Americans, especially those under 40, turn their hearts and minds towards God, America will cease to exist. We might still be called the USA, but we will be unable to “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”   Why should this be the case?

The desire to be free resides in every human heart.  Our Creator put it there and for a very good reason.  It’s an essential part of God’s love for you.

Love, to be love, must be freely given.  Love cannot be commanded or coerced.  God freely gives His love to you. God has also given you the gift of freedom, so that you can decide whether or not to accept God’s love.  Because you can say “No,”  your “Yes” has meaning. Your response to God is the most important decision you will ever make.  In case you don’t know, freedom on the other side of saying “Yes” to God, is more powerful and more fulfilling than the shadow of it we experience when we don’t have faith.

There is a long history of the growth of liberty in Western Civilization, especially from the Middle Ages until the American Revolution.  The Declaration of Independence boldly affirms God-given rights, like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Constitution protects these rights through its controls on political power.   The Bill of Rights specifically prohibits the government from restricting Americans’ freedoms to practice our faith, to speak our minds, and to protect our lives and property, among many others.  Constitutional amendments expand the blessings of liberty to more and more citizens, including those of all races and colors, both sexes, and folks age 18 or older.

While the framers knew that the nation they were creating would have citizens of all faiths and of no faith, they trusted that the majority would remain believers in a loving, good and holy God.  They knew that the future of freedom and liberty would depend upon it, because America’s love of freedom is inextricably linked to America’s love of God.

Are you passionate about wanting to reverse the trends threatening American freedom and liberty?    Start by saying “Yes” to God.  

Into the Fray

One year from now, on November 3, 2020, Americans will elect the next president, the entire House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate, eleven state governors and thousands of state congressional leaders, county commissioners, city councilmen and school board members.   How will you decide who to vote for?

I would like to challenge you, my friends, to think long and hard about these choices.  Both Democrats and Republicans talk about values and the Constitution, but when they do they mean very different things.  What do they mean to you?

America is at a tipping point.  Two recent surveys reveal trends that greatly concern me, one about faith in God and another about our government.  About one-third of Americans, mostly those under 40, reject religion (primarily Christianity).  In the second survey, about the same number and age group, think socialism is a good political system.  Either of these trends weakens America.  In combination they are an existential threat to liberty - mine, yours and the generations that will follow us.

Do you want to continue to live in a free society?  Do you want less government interference in your life and the lives of your children?  If so, over this next year, before you vote, you have some homework to do.

Think long and hard about what values and principles guide your life.  Where do you draw them from? Culture? Family? Faith?  What is important to you?   Who decides what is right or wrong?  What are our responsibilities are to each other?  The moral foundations of our society have their roots in Christianity.  Explore the teachings of Jesus for yourself.  Pray about it.

Think long and hard about the form of government you want to live under.  Many countries are considered democracies, but don’t have the freedoms Americans do. Even China and Russia hold elections. Read and reflect on the US Constitution, its Amendments and its all important Bill of Rights. Does it matter that America is a constitutional republic rather than a democracy?   Where have we strayed from the Constitution?  Are there changes would you like to see?

Do your homework!  Then, next November you will be ready to vote for politicians who represent you.  Remember, these folks are elected to serve you, not the other way around!

Over the next year, this Preacher Girl will be at it again writing every week or so to help you think about the America you want to live in now and bequeath to future generations.  As the Preamble to the US Constitution says:

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

How valuable are the blessings of liberty to you? What are you willing to do to protect them?

Preacher Girl Is Back

Starting this Sunday, Preacher Girl will begin posting her thoughts again!  Watch this space or find her on Facebook at Preacher Girl Diaries. 

Clarity!

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.  (Psalm 119:105)

I have always been a very goal-oriented and accomplishment-driven kind of woman in my careers as a paralegal and nursing home administrator.  When I left the business world to go to seminary, my personality didn’t change, just my direction!  I told my mentor that I kept praying to God to give me clarity about my future ministry, but that I wasn’t being given the “big picture” answer I so desired. My mentor responded, much to my frustration, that God doesn’t promise us clarity.  God will not reveal to us the entire plan for our lives, but He will give us just enough light to see the next step in the direction He wants us to go.

It’s a lot like driving in the dark. Imagine your car’s headlights on an otherwise unlit country road.  You can’t see very far ahead. You are very, very focused on the road right in front of you!  You want to get home safely!  If you think you know better than what that small patch of light is telling you, you might try to turn into the darkness, but more than likely you’ll end up in a ditch.  Sticking to the light, even if the pace is slow, will get you where you need to go.

God’s Word is like that headlight, lighting up the path in front of us. Our light is God’s  Word in Scripture, in prayer, in worship, and most profoundly in the Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus asks that we follow Him, and  following Him is what I try to do every day.

In the many years since that conversation with my seminary mentor,  I have come to appreciate God’s wisdom in revealing His plan for my life, one little circle of light at a time.  Sometimes, I admit, that I veered off into the darkness, or focused too far down the road than was good for me.  Sometimes there were obstacles and difficult times I could have never navigated without Him. God was always with me, guiding me. When I am faithful to the light, my direction and purpose are clear.

I retired from pastoral ministry a few years ago.  Recently, I have taken the time to look back at where I’ve been and see where I paid attention to God’s direction, and where I didn’t.  And the most wonderful thing is that my retirement is part of the plan!  God is using me in ways that never would have been possible had my energies been focused on pastoring a church.  God’s will for each of us is amazing journey, if we will only follow His light.

What is your next step?  Are you following Jesus?  What is it that He wants you to do today?  Don’t be afraid you might make a mistake!  God uses every step we take, every experience, both good and bad, to draw us closer to Him and help us fulfill His will for our lives.

I came across this little poem by Scottish author, minister and poet George MacDonald to give you encouragement for today and the days ahead:

What God may hereafter require of you,
you must not give yourself the least trouble about.
Everything He gives you to do,
you must do as well as ever you can.
That is the best possible preparation
for what He may want you to do next.
If people would but do what they have to do,
they would always find themselves ready for what came next.

What is your next step?  Let Jesus light your way.

And if the Scripture verse at the beginning, got you singing, “Thy Word” by Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, here is a link to them singing it on YouTube!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CSZlIVP9u0

Preacher Girl’s Guide to Voting

Believe it or not, Christians don’t agree on everything, including when it comes to voting.  God gives us grace in these things.

Whether its national, state or local elections, these are the primary things I look for in political candidates and other ballot issues.  What are your non-negotiables when it comes to voting?

For me, I look for candidates whose words and actions echo America’s mission statement, the Declaration of Independence. How they have lived their lives should reflect their belief that all people are equal and endowed by God with unalienable rights - like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Yes, pro-life candidates are high on my list, as are those that want to limit the government‘s power (that liberty thing) as I follow my own dreams.

Further, which candidates are committed to protecting the rights laid out in the US Constitution’s Bill of Rights....

To live my faith, and live it “out loud,” in all aspects of my life.

To speak my mind, and speak it boldly.

To get my news from multiple sources, and not rely on a single source controlled by the government, a political party or any special interest.

To be able to gather with others to protest, to express my grievances with the government, in peaceful and orderly ways.

To be able to own and carry a gun to defend myself.

To know that due process and the rule of law apply to everyone.

To be assured that the separation of powers is maintained between the branches of the federal government as well as the powers retained by the states, and ultimately by the people....like me and you. For example, the federal government is responsible for protecting the country and its citizens, entering into treaties, establishing and enforcing immigration laws, and easing commerce between the states, but power over things like healthcare and education belong to states and individuals!   Too much power in the hands of a few is tyranny.

In addition to those things, I’m also looking for which candidates support entrepreneurship, promote a strong free market economy, protect private property and encourage good stewardship of the environment.  Yes, I mean capitalism.

And, of course, as a wealthy and powerful nation (and as individuals) we have a huge responsibility to care for the poor among us and around the world.  This not only means giving money, but also helping people rise out of poverty.  Freedom and capitalism do that better than any other political or economic systems the world has ever seen. I like candidates that recognize that!

So this is my checklist for evaluating politicians and other issues on the ballot.  Florida has 11 potential State Constitutional Amendments to vote on as well!  Lots to study!

Sadly, all of us humans are well, human.  We all make mistakes.  We all succumb to temptation.  Sometimes those failures disqualify folks for political office and sometimes they don’t.  That is up to the voters to decide.

Prayer is an important part of my discernment process.   Asking God for guidance, especially when in doubt, is essential.  “Lord, is this the right person, is this the right policy,  for such a time as this?”

I’m an old-fashioned girl who likes to vote on Election Day and then stay up late watching the results.  Then whoever wins, I ask God to give them the strength and wisdom they need for the job ahead.

If you haven’t voted yet, please vote on Tuesday.  The future of America will be determined by our decisions.

Thoughts on Robert

I did a funeral service for an old friend this past week.  Robert Raymond Holmes, Sr. died, having lived 102 years and 5 months.  I loved Robert and know he loved me.  We just clicked. I got to know him like no one else as he told me his life story that we turned into a book at the time of his 100th birthday that he entitled,  “Serving God, Country and Family.”  That’s what Robert’s life was all about.  

His son Bob told us about how much Robert loved his family.  As we prepared the service, his daughters told me he was a beautiful person and a loving father.  That he was generous and kind.  Wouldn’t you love your kids to say that about you?  

A neighbor, John, sang “Arlington” as a testimony to Robert’s love of America and his service. 

When it was my turn, I talked about Robert’s love of God.  He didn’t wear his faith on his sleeve, but he knew Jesus and followed Jesus.  He learned about and grew in his faith through going to his sister’s Sunday School classes, through an adult lifetime of serving in the Catholic Church, and more recently being a part of the Methodist Church where I got to know him as his pastor and his friend.  

One of the things Jesus said, over and over in various was was simply,  “Follow me.”  Jesus said, “Follow me” to 4 fisherman, Peter, Andrew, John and James, a friend of Andrew’s named Philip, a tax collector known Matthew, and many others. A central part of Jesus’ ministry was asking the crowds to follow him and the new life he offered. He said something very similar to a Christian-persecuting Jewish Pharisee named Paul who then became a follower of Jesus in a very dramatic fashion.  He saw the light, if you will.   These real-life men and women, sharing the story of the resurrection of Jesus, changed the world.  Jesus continues to say “Follow me” to all of us. 

And what does following Jesus entail?  Well, simply put, it means following Jesus’ example and teaching.  Don’t think of a life facing Jesus’ back. Think of it like the words we sang from the hymn, “In the Garden.”  “And he walks with me and he talks with me and he tells me I am his own.”  Jesus is with us on the journey of life.  

All Jesus asks is for us to love each other like Jesus has loved us.  One rule.  Simple to remember, but hard to do.  Honestly, if a man can predict death and resurrection and pull it off, I think he is someone we should listened to!   Love one another, Jesus said, as I have loved you.  

If you were to ask me what following Jesus is like, what loving like Jesus entails, I would tell you he has comforted me at times just like this, sometimes through a sense of peace in my soul and sometimes through the hand of the person next to me. I never feel alone.  He has forgiven me when I didn’t deserve it. He has guided me to make good decisions and away from bad ones (you know, that nudge you get?) He always tells the truth.  And Jesus, has put people in my path who have made my life richer and fuller, like my husband Dave - and folks like Robert.  Those are some of the ways I am to love other folks as well. 

Robert was a good man and he lived a good life. The world could use examples of good men. I hope folks will look to his life and follow his example, because when look closely, you will see Robert, throughout his life, was doing his best to follow Jesus.  The word “loving” came up a lot when we talked about him.  None of us “love” perfectly, that why we should all be grateful for Jesus’ example of forgiveness.  Robert recognized his strengths and his weaknesses.  He was a humble and grateful man, and often talked about how blessed he was. He lived his life sharing those blessings with others.  When I look back on Robert’s life, I see ..

Jesus saying “Follow me,” when Robert talked about his guardian angels, comforting him and protecting him.  

Jesus was saying “Follow me,” when Robert described how he knew, without reservation, that Marie was the one for him. 

Jesus was saying “Follow me,” as Robert, and so many others, laid down their lives as soldiers in WWII.   Robert told me, “I think God wants us to win the war because Hitler was such an evil man.  He didn’t want to do it Himself.  He wanted the Army to defeat Hitler.”  

It was Jesus saying “Follow me” when Robert took advantage of the many opportunities presented to him - like when he was handed some clients to start his own tree surgery business. Robert, in his way, quoted Yogi Bera  - “When you come to fork in the road, take it.”  And he in turn mentored others and shared similar opportunities with them.  

It is a very interesting exercise to look back over your life and see where God’s loving hand has guided you, comforted you, forgiven you. And where you in turn shared those things with others.  Those are some of the places I see God at work in Robert’s life and Robert’s life at work in ours....   

But that is not all....In these last few weeks, Robert followed Jesus through the valley of the shadow of death. He remained a source of joy and inspiration to everyone around him.   And last Friday at 10:03 am Robert followed Jesus through the experience of death itself. On that journey, he, as we all do, went alone.  

Facing death, living through the death of someone we love, dying ourselves, are perhaps the hardest things we humans have to do.  Death is something that will happen everyone we know - even us.  

How we face death, deal with death, depends in large part about what we believe happens after death.  Some folks try real hard not to think about it.  Others  believe that this life is all there is, and when we breathe our final breath, that’s it.  We may have lived life well, tried to be a good person, but that’s it. When we’re dead, we’re done.  The end.  Those left behind grieve and try to find some comfort in memories alone.  

Christians have a different perspective  For us there is grief at saying good-bye, there is the comfort of great memories to be sure, but there is also the hope that we will be together again.  Christians, followers of Jesus, know there is more living to do after we stop breathing.  We know that death is not an end but as a new beginning.  

How do we know this?  Because we just keep following Jesus.  Jesus lived, Jesus died, and Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus is alive now.  If we live following him, and die following him, we will also be following him beyond that grave.

Today we are celebrating that Robert is still following Jesus.  We don’t really know what that life will be like, but if you take the best parts of this life and make them better, I think that is a hint of what eternity is like.  New heaven and a new earth.  

It’s kind of like this story....There was an old country doctor who would take his dog along with him when visiting patients. The dog would remain outside while the doctor went in for the house call.On one occasion, the physician went to the home of a man with a terminal disease who didn’t seem to have much time to live. The man confessed to the doctor his fears about death and said, “What’s it like when you die?”

The doctor thought for a moment, then got up and opened the front door. His loyal canine friend, who had been waiting patiently on the porch, gleefully bounded in to join his master. The doctor turned to the dying man and said, “Do you see this dog? He didn’t have any idea what was on this side of that door. All he knew was that his master was there, and he wanted to be with him.”

“That’s how I feel about death,” the physician continued. “I don’t really know all the whats and hows about dying. I’m not totally sure what’s on the other side of that door. But I know who is there, and that’s enough for me. I’m looking forward to being with my Master.”

We know Jesus, and all those who have died following HIm, are waiting for us on the other side of death.  So take heart in your grief and your mourning. For while Robert’s physical life has ended, his loving spirit lives on. Robert is still following Jesus and my guess is, he is hoping that you are following Jesus too.   That is something to celebrate.

Use It or Lose It!

How is your soul?

We often ask each other, “how are you?” expecting an answer about health or general well-being. But, people are more than their bodies.  We are physical, emotional, rational AND spiritual beings.  We feel hesitant in asking about each other’s souls because the pervasive attitude in our day and time is that ‘faith is a private matter.’  But should it be?

Due to the influence of atheism, we have purged acknowledgement of the human spirit from not only conversations with friends, but from public discourse and public education. When we fail to acknowledge the dignity inherent in each other’s souls we create a dysfunctional society.  When we fail to nurture the souls of our children at home and at school, we abandon our responsibility to give them all the tools they need to live a full life.

Souls, like bodies, can be healthy or unhealthy.  As they say, ‘use it or lose it’!   If we don’t take care of our bodies with food, sleep and exercise, we become physically weak.  When we don’t take care of our souls with prayer, worship and other spiritual exercises, our spirits become weak. They may lose the ability to function altogether.

Many people today say they “believe” in God, but live just like atheists, failing to do anything to nurture and strengthen their souls.  Are you as intentional about taking care of your spiritual health as you are taking care of your body?

As you consider Jesus, think about the fullness of human nature, including the human spirit. History shows us people of all times and places acknowledge the human spirit and how our souls yearn to connect with a larger spiritual presence that we sense, but can’t see.  Part of Jesus’ amazing message is that God, in God’s great love for us, desires to connect with us too. And that includes you.

Exercise your spirit this week and read the Gospel of John, even if you haven’t read Mark, Matthew and Luke.  Be open to the possibility that the Spirit of God is reaching out to the spirit in you.

John wrote his account long after the others, probably in the mid to late 90s, almost 60 years after Jesus’ resurrection.   I imagine John as an old man thinking about all he experienced as he walked the length and breadth of Israel with Jesus and His disciples. John goes deep into the meaning of it all – the truth about God, about human nature, about love, forgiveness and so much more.

Read the first chapter, especially the first 18 verses, a few times and think back on them as you read the rest of John’s Gospel.  Grasp the significance that Jesus, who walked and talked, healed and taught, laughed and wept, ate and drank, lived and died, is God – the God of Creation, the God of Eternity.  As you read, watch what God does and listen to what God says.  Open the eyes of your body, your mind, your emotions and the eyes of your soul to Jesus.  

Dear Jesus, answer my questions about you.  Help me to see what I need to see and hear what I need to hear. Strengthen my soul.  Amen.