A message of hope, inspiration and challenge.
America’s only hope for restoration is for the hearts of men, women and children to turn their hearts toward God. This Sunday message is one that is good for every day of the week.
*** Pastor Ron Burtz***
Our country’s sad moral condition is due in part to our lack of thankfulness to God as stated Romans 1.
I’ll admit it is tough to think about being thankful in the face of all the depressing news, but what about all the good things in my life?
Today I am thankful that when I awoke after 3 and-a-half hours of blissful sleep, the house was warm thanks to our electric heaters. When I flipped a switch the lights came on. I was able to make delicious coffee in less than three minutes. I pushed a button on the remote and Fox & Friends came on. A bit later I enjoyed hot shower in clean, drinkable water provided by the City, and even later I dined on a delicious breakfast of store bought eggs and cheese that had been safely stored in my electric refrigerator, while I checked the 10-day weather forecast on my smart phone.
For all of these luxuries I give thanks to Almighty God. I call them luxuries because not one of those things I mentioned is actually needed to sustain my physical life in this world. I ask God to forgive me for taking those blessings for granted and even beginning to look at them as “needs”. In doing so I have made idols of comfort and pleasure.
I mention this today because (And I hope no one will think me melodramatic for saying this.) over the past several years I have increasingly and sincerely wondered how much longer we will be allowed to enjoy these luxuries in this land we call home. The American people continually move toward choosing pleasure, comfort, security, government and many other gods over Christ the risen King. How much longer will God put up with this? We are seeing the clouds of judgment swirling overhead. We are feeling the bite of the winds of God’s wrath. Will we wake up before complete disaster strikes?
The reality of where we are and where we may be headed is causing me to reevaluate my life and my priorities today. Some thoughts about changes in the days ahead:
Less Fox & Friends and more Bible.
Less TV in general and more praise music and classic devotional books.
Less activity and more prayer.
Less whining and more walking.
Less chit chat and more challenge.
Less Facebook and more face to face.
Less of me and more of Him.
