Pastor's Blog

I was born on July 4, 1776 and the Declaration of Independence is my birth certificate.

The blood of the world runs in my veins because I offered freedom to the oppressed.  I am many things and many people.

I am the United States of America!

I am 315 million living souls and the memory of millions who have lived and died for me.

I am Nathan Hale, Paul Revere, Washington, Daniel Webster and Patrick Henry
I am John Paul Jones, The Green Mountain Boys and Davy Crockett. 

I am Harriet Tubman who led slaves underground to freedom in the north.  I am Clara Barton treating the wounded on the battlefields.  I am Susan B. Anthony fighting for the woman’s right to vote.

I am Independence Hall, the Monitor and the Merrimac and Gettysburg, PA.
I am Lee, Grant and Stonewall Jackson.

I remember the Alamo, the Maine, Pearl Harbor and September 11, 2001.
When freedom called, I have answered and stayed until it was over.

I am the Brooklyn Bridge, the wheat fields of Kansas and the granite hills of Vermont.

I am the Lady in the harbor who beckons, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free!”

I am the coal fields of the Virginias and Pennsylvania, the purple mountains of the Rockies and the fertile lands of the West. I am the Golden Gate, the Grand Canyon and the sky scrapers of New York City.

Ohhhh I am big, I sprawl from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Alaska to Hawaii; four million square miles throbbing with industry, farms and city life.

I am George Washington Carver, Frederick Douglas, Jonas Salk, Albert Einstein and Dr. Martin Luther King. I am more than 350,000 schools and colleges and 600,000 churches where my people worship God as they think best.

I am the roar of a crowd in a stadium and the voice of a choir in a cathedral.

I am Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.  I am Rockefeller, Morgan, Carnegie, Ford, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.

Yes, I am the nation and these are the things that I am.
I was conceived in freedom, and God willing, in freedom I will spend the rest of my days.
May I possess always the integrity, the courage and the strength
to keep myself unshackled, to remain a citadel of freedom
and a beacon of hope for the world.
I AM THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA!    -- Author Unknown (revised by S. Nash)

Pastor's Blog

Protecting Us from the Terrorist

Pastor Steve Nash

Too many people in too many nations of the world experience a fearful helplessness when we hear the many threats of the terrorist.  Law enforcement agencies do what they can to protect us, but they cannot be everywhere at all times.  There are thousands of “sleeper” terrorists residing in our own country.  Some have been here for decades waiting for the opportunity and orders from abroad.

Most world leaders do not or choose not to understand that there is and always has been a parallel “unseen” warfare raging on this planet.  For any of you who possess a Christian world view, we understand that there is a constant “spiritual warfare” being fought for the souls of all people.  Have you ever wondered why the vast “left” or “progressive liberal” will defend the Muslim and turn on the Christian and Jew?  Even former President Carter has blamed Israel, not the Muslim extremist, for the recent terror in France.  I’m not sure they even understand why they oppose the Judeo-Christian presence in the world.  The answer is that there is a battle going on for the hearts and minds of all people and those who hate the Jews and Christians do so because they are controlled by “powers of darkness in high places” and don’t realize it!

These puppets or minions, which are controlled by “spirits of darkness,” are uncontrollably furious toward those who embrace a faith in God; that believes in the right to life for all people, including the unborn child.  They despise any public display of faith and will spend millions of dollars tying up Christian organizations in courts across the land.  They may disguise themselves as clerics yet propagate hate, division and confusion among the ignorant that have no discernment.

In the mean time, we have the terrorist lurking in many communities of America, ready to take advantage of the weakened, desensitized, unprepared, deceived citizens of this great nation.  We have cowered in the face of threats from N. Korea to the point where Sony pulls any “offensive” film production.  The producers of “Homeland” are considering toning down any possible offense to Muslims.   David Nevins told critics at the Television Critics Association’s semi-annual press tour Monday, “We’re not necessarily going to stay with U.S. relations in the Muslim world … It could be Africa, it could be Europe, it could be back in another place in the Middle East.”

Referencing the Charlie Hebdo shooting in France and North Korea’s alleged hacking of Sony, Nevins noted that, “it’s a bit of a scary time to be a maker of controversial, political truth.  It’s been a bad month for free speech around the world.”  In other words, we’ll BACK DOWN!  With any sign of weakness, the enemy will proceed to take advantage to threaten and eventually attack targets that oppose their twisted ideology.

I believe that light is greater than darkness, truth will shatter lies, good will overcome evil and God’s people will prevail until the end.  We must walk as children of God who cower to no one who threatens the presence of God in this world.  We must be proactive, get on the offense and follow the mandate of Scripture – “Put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the schemes of wickedness”-- Eph. 6 (read). 

Rev. Franklin Graham reminds us, “Wherever Christianity flourishes there is a vibrant culture of life, not death.  When the precepts of the Christian faith are faithfully taught and followed there is an abundance of selfless, sacrificial living and giving.”  Graham goes on to cite the obsession of death many of our younger people seem to possess.  “Football used to be the dominant choice on television on Sunday evenings in the fall and winter but today, for example, 17 million people skipped the football game to watch the season premiere of The Walking Dead, a series about zombies hunting and eating people.”

We are our own worst enemy!  “Any nation that forgets God shall be turned into hell”-- Ps. 9.  There is only ONE protector we can always count on.  He alone will rescue His people from utter destruction.  “He who dwells in the secret place of the most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…a thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand...because you have loved Me, I will deliver you, I will be with you in trouble!”-- Ps. 91.  Yes, we need protection from the terrorist and the best way to insure our security is to turn back to our God who is able to provide that protection.  He will give our government and law enforcement agencies proper insight into how to defend this country.  His blessing can be upon us again as it has been for almost 240 years.

Pastor's Blog

Root Reasons for America’s Decline

Pastor Steve Nash

Few would argue that the world’s last great hope is in decline.  Since WWII America has been the moral, spiritual and social compass for all nations.  We have become the richest, strongest and most admired nation on planet earth.  Our illustrious reputation has become clouded over the past decade.  Instead, we see a growing disdain from countries on every continent.

In recent years we have experienced moral, political, economic and military decline that is steadily heading south.  There are many reasons that can be quickly cited by those who have knowledge of current events.  We could blame the progressive socialists, the political correct movement, the massive debt we have acquired or weak leadership in Washington and around the country.  I have come to realize that these are only surface problems springing from root reasons for America’s decline.

The Bible declares that, “any nation that forgets God shall be turned into hell.”  That is the root problem – we have forgotten the God who raised this nation in the first place.  Chrisma Magizine (3-27-13)  reports “ that Americans overwhelmingly believe morals and values are declining in the U.S. (77 percent).  The most-cited cause for the decline is a lack of Bible reading.”

Fewer young people show any desire to “seek first the kingdom of God.”  They have become distracted by the many would be philosophers over facebook or the blogosphere.  They don’t have time to consider the God of their fathers.  One percent of those between 18 and 25 are regular attendees of a church or synagogue.  They have decided to do what is right in their own eyes.  We are on the brink of losing an entire generation if there isn’t a dramatic shift back to the things of God.

Michael Snyder has written, “Is Christianity in decline in America?  When you examine the cold, hard numbers it is simply not possible to come to any other conclusion.  Over the past few decades, the percentage of Christians in America has been steadily declining.  This has especially been true among young people. Millions upon millions of Christians in the United States simply do not believe many of the fundamental principles of the Christian faith any longer.  Without a doubt, America is becoming a less “Christian” nation.  This has staggering implications for the future of this country.”

The above observation is tremendously sad when we take into account that this nation was launched, sustained and made to be the greatest because of our spiritual foundation.  There is presently a rapid shift in another direction; a direction that is disastrous!  This morning I heard a news report that a Florida church will be destroyed in order to make room for a sports stadium parking lot.  In many communities “sports” has become the Sunday morning activity parents have chosen for their children.  Our children are taught that religion is not as important as football, baseball or soccer.  And we wonder why our youth are becoming more confused, angry and violent.  They are turning on their parents who have failed to build a solid foundation for living in a turbulent world. 

“The State of the Bible 2013” done by the Barna Group for the American Bible Society found that, “Americans are losing interest in the Bible.  In just one year, the number of people who said they read the Bible to be ‘closer to God’ dropped 9 percentage points from 64% in 2012 to 55% in 2013.  Results show a drop from 75% to 69% of people who said, ‘the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life.’  Those people who agreed that the Bible has ‘too much influence’ in U.S. society increased from 13% to 16%, while those who thought the Bible had ‘too little influence’ dropped from 54% to 47%.”

For those of us who claim to be Christian, we must look inwardly at our own souls to determine whether we have the biblical faith and convictions we say we do.  Could it be a distraction of the devil to get us galloping on some hobby horse (cause) and neglect the worship of the only One who can change anything in the first place?  It is more important to worship our God in heaven than it is to attend a Tea Party, Right to Life meeting or some other worthy cause.  It is idolatry to put any cause before the calling we have as people of God.