World War II was a troubling time for the USA,
but patriotism kept sending soldiers to the battle front until
victory was won. During this time George M. Cohan wrote the rousing
patriotic song “You’re a Grand Old Flag” for the new musical,
George Washington, Jr. Soon it could be heard in social clubs
and homes throughout the country. It became the first song from a
musical to sell over a million pieces of sheet music.
You're a grand old
flag, / You’re a high flying flag / And forever in peace may you
wave.
You’re the emblem
of / The land I love. / The home of the free and the brave.
Ev’ry heart beats
true / ‘Neath the Red, White and Blue, / Where there’s never a boast
or brag,
Should auld
acquaintance be forgot, / Keep your eye on the grand old flag.
Just think of the swelling of pride in
patriotic bosoms when they heard/sang this song and envisioned “old
glory” waving in the wind and rallied support for sons, fathers and
husbands fighting on foreign soil to preserve the freedom of their
beloved country.
Don’t you long for the days when folks
had that kind of loyalty to the country that provided them with the
coveted freedom that citizens of other countries only dreamed of and
longed for?! But we have to face it: there will always be an
element that wants to bring our way of life down. They have no
regard for the very freedom that gives them the opportunity to speak
their “piece.”
The real culprit that undermines the
loyalty of this country is the same source that attempts to strip
away every fiber of Christianity! More and more, slipping away are
the principals that were held in esteem by earlier citizens who knew
that it was God who melded this nation together and structured it to
honor Him. In some quarters, the “Grand Old Flag” of our country is disrespected as
is the “banner” of Jesus Christ who upholds those with honesty and
integrity who honor Him. I don’t see how we can separate the two!
“It is impossible to rightly govern the
world without God and the Bible.” –George Washington
Of course the leaders of this nation
cannot mandate religion; it has to be freedom to choose; but neither
can it deny or restrict that freedom as some want to do. They have
the choice to have freedom FROM religion, but their choice cannot
restrict others who acknowledge that it was belief in God that
caused the original “founding documents” to give citizens freedom OF
religion.
It’s time to hoist the “Grand Old Flag”
high, honor and respect what it represents; and it is time to hold
God’s “banner” high and thank Him for what He established in the
good ole USA! “Old Glory” has been stained with the blood of
countless brave members of the armed forces who gave their lives so
this freedom could be available for early denizens, for us and for
generations to come.
The “banner” we Christians raise is
blood-stained also. It is stained by the blood of our Savior, Jesus
Christ, who gave His life at Calvary so we could live—in freedom!
“If the Son therefore make you free, ye
shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).
Freedom didn’t come to us as a nation
without someone paying the price for it. Our freedom in Christ
didn’t come to us without Someone paying a price for it. It was
“free” to us, but it certainly was not cheap! It cost Jesus His
all.
When Israel marched on their way to
freedom from Egypt, each tribe had a banner (ensign) that
represented their tribe. Jesus came from the tribe of Judah which
must have had a lion for its “mascot” (Revelation 5:5). When they
stopped and made camp until God gave them marching orders, the
ensign of each tribe flew over their camp.
“Every man of the children of Israel
shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s
house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they
pitch” (Numbers 2:2).
Our “ensign” is the Lord Jesus Christ,
and it is our responsibility to lift it high so that His “camp” will
always be easily found and any who are looking for Him can find the
way to the freedom He has bought for everyone who wants it.
“And in that day there shall be a root
of Jesse [Jesus], which shall stand for an ensign of the people..”
(Isaiah 11:10).
“And I [Jesus], if I be lifted up from
the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32).
Jesus was “lifted up” at Calvary and
gave His life that we could have eternal life. Isn’t it time
for Christians to dust off the banner of the Lord and raise it high
above the Lord’s camp?
"...His banner over me is love" (Songs
of Solomon 2:4)
Isn’t it time for freedom-loving people
to stand at attention to the “Grand Old Flag” and honor what it
stands for, to uphold the ‘self-evident’ truths that made it
great—truths that our founding fathers took from Biblical principles
which had proved to be foundation stones of lasting content?
“We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator [emphasis mine] with certain
unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the
pursuit of Happiness.”
(This sentence has been called “one of
the best-known sentences in the English language and the most
potent and consequential words in American history."—Wikipedia)
If we don’t take a stand, both as
Christians and citizens, how can we expect God to continue to bless
us individually and as a nation, and how will future generations
know what is truly worthy of their honor? Let us arise, awaken and
stand for the only Truth that will endure.
If you haven’t read
Deuteronomy 28: 1-14, please do! This outlines what the
nation/family/person that honors God can expect; it is phenomenal!
Great expectations! The blessings encompass every area of life.
My grandmother Adams had a “motto” on
her living room wall that I still remember. Its message was true
then and it is true now.
What would the Lord have you do for Him
that will last?
Celebrate Independence Day for what it
represents, for the freedom that is ours to appreciate and enjoy,
that was passed on to us at great price. Let its preservation
begin in our hearts and continue through our loyal efforts.
Pray for the men and women who put their lives on the line every day
for this worthy cause! Pray for godly local and national
leadership to arise and uphold our "unalienable Rights" -
"Under God"!
Happy 4th of July!
Support Our Troops
Would you like to send
greetings to a serviceman/woman? See this page for ways to do
so and other information.
Click here:
Support Our Troops
Christian Flag
The Christian flag is one of the oldest unchanged
flags in the world. It was conceived at Brighton Chapel, Coney
Island, New York, Sunday, September 26, 1897, and was presented in
its present form the following Sunday by its originator.
The white on the flag represents purity and peace.
The blue stands for faithfulness, truth, and sincerity. Red, of
course, is the color of sacrifice, in this case calling to mind the
blood shed by Christ on Calvary, represented by the cross.
The first pledge to the Christian flag was written by
Methodist pastor Lynn Harold Hough in 1908.
"I pledge allegiance to the Christian Flag and to the
Savior for whose kingdom it stands. One brotherhood, uniting all
mankind, in service and love."
More modern version:
"I
affirm my loyalty to the Christian Flag and to our savior whose
cross it bears, one spiritual fellowship under that cross, uniting
us in service and love."
Today the Christian flag is one of the oldest unchanged flags in the
world.
Music:
"His Banner Over Me Is Love" ...Kevin Prosch
@ There's Good
News July 2011
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