Happy 232nd Birthday, America!

Lee Greenwood - God Bless The USA



"Spiritual Entropy"
by Paul Heil

This weekend Americans are celebrating the 232nd birthday of what arguably became the greatest and most powerful nation this planet has ever known.

232 years seems like a very long time. But, consider this: with an average life expectancy of about 78 years in America these days, that is actually just a bit less than three overlapping lifetimes. And compared to such nations as Egypt, Greece, China and others, the good-ol' USA is still the kid on the block.

Last week in this space, we discussed how New Age philosophies, like a virulent disease, are eating away at the very heart and soul of this nation. And I use the word "soul" intentionally because, as we have seen, this deadly cancer has been spreading through the church as well as secular society.

Although the hazards we face as Christians in America pale compared with the persecution our believing brothers and sisters around the world are facing -- even gruesome death -- we are definitely seeing an accelerated level of attack on fundamental Christian beliefs. (Take a moment, if possible, to re-read last week's Epistle about this.) Satan obviously knows his time is short. (Rev. 12:12.)

The late Dr. James Kennedy went to great lengths illustrating how the United States was founded on Christian principles, even if not all of the founders were Christian. And Christian principles were historically at the heart of American society and even American jurisprudence.

But I have lived long enough -- and the majority of you reading this probably have, as well -- to have seen a major change in American society regarding Christian beliefs. When I was in grade school -- public school, mind you -- the teacher would read a chapter from the Bible each morning. We would recite the Lord's prayer. And we would recite the Pledge of Allegiance. To today's school administrators all of that seems totally out of place, archaic, primitive, and certainly not something for a more "enlightened" and pluralistic society. During my years as a radio newsman, I covered many municipal government meetings that opened with prayer. Today that practice is coming under relentless attack – or, commonly, has disappeared entirely. It's just verboten.

Too bad. We have lost sight of where this nation's strength originated.

But over the past two centuries, enlightened observers have warned about what we're seeing happen now.

In 1832, a Frenchman, Alexis de Tocqueville, came to America to investigate the American penal system, but, much more broadly, to observe American society. His observations and conclusions filled two volumes. Consider these well-known observations of his:

"I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers – and it was not there.
"I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her fertile fields and boundless forests – and it was not there.
"I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her public school system and her institutions of learning – and it was not there.
"I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her democratic congress and her matchless constitution – and it was not there.
"Not until I went into the churches of America and heard the pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power."

And so it was – in 1832. But are American pulpits still "aflame with righteousness?" Consider de Tocqueville's conclusion – and warning:

"America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."

That's a chilling warning, especially in light of the changes we've seen in as little as the past twenty years. It's not unfair to say that much of American society has lost its moral compass – or has simply decided to disregard it entirely. Our celebrities and our politicians and even some liberal theologians preach that there is nothing wrong with killing pre-born babies or in approving, celebrating and even "sanctifying" acts that God has called "abominations."

How much longer will God withhold the judgement that this nation must surely be bringing upon itself? And can we allow these celebrities, politicians and others to continually thumb their noses at God without speaking up more boldly in defense of the truth? The words of the glorified Christ to the Church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:5 could be read as a plea – and warning – for us today, as a nation as well as individually: "Think about those times of your first love (how different now!) and turn back to me again and work as you did before; or else I will come and remove your candlestick from its place among the churches."*

One of the most insightful and incisive quotes I've seen on this issue comes not from a theologian or a preacher but rather from a noted U. S. Army officer during World War II, Gen. Omar Bradley (after whom the Bradley tank is named). Read carefully what he had to say: "We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected the Sermon on the Mount… America today is running on the momentum of a Godly ancestry, and when that momentum runs down, God help America."

There's very little momentum left. As a society — and especially as respecting Christian influence in our society — we are experiencing entropy, which the dictionary defines as the "steady deterioration of a system or society."

Pray today as you have never before prayed for this land. Pray for spiritual revival to reverse the accelerating downward moral and spiritual trend. Pray that God's people will exercise those "unalienable rights" the Founding Fathers uniquely recognized as given "by their Creator" to take a stand for truth — now more than ever.

Pray that God's chilling words to Ezekiel (22:30) will not apply to us: "So I sought for a man among them who would...stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one."

- Paul

*Living Bible paraphrase.

Watch out for overly friendly mechanics!

Prairie Bible Camp - Lehr Camp Meeting: Lehr, North Dakota

After twenty three years, Carol and I enjoyed a wonderful reunion with friends at Lehr Camp Meeting in North Dakota. According to MapQuest, Lehr is 1,232 miles from Plantersville. Over an eight day period, I preached eight times plus led Bible studies and devotionals. Carol and I truly enjoyed renewing our fellowship with North Dakota State Senator Robert Erbele, his wife Susan and their loving family. The highlight of our week was the salvation of four young men who came to the altar in response to the preaching of the gospel. Pray with us that Tristen, Tyler, Chase and Andrew will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Savior.

The Wissmann Family of Seward, Nebraska did a splendid job leading the Prairie Bible Camp through the day. They directed the youth ages 4 – 18. In addition, they led us in worship during the evening meetings.

A Wissman family member aptly blogged this line about the camp meeting and Bible camp, "How does a person sum up a week of ol' time revival meetings, dozens of youth ages 4 - 18, colorful dramas, meaningful lessons, enthusiastic games, and priceless moments with friends?!"

This slide show will give you a glimpse into the week of activity better than a wordy post could do. Building on the theme, "The Greatest Discovery", we studied the principles of seeking Truth, the courage to stand for Truth, and the importance of spreading the Truth. [John 14:6]



The Waddington Family of Seward, North Dakota shared their ministry of music with us on Saturday evening.

Here are my photos from the week.



Today many people believe the usefulness of the camp meeting has passed. They consider it an old mode of operation that needs to be put to sleep. We strongly disagree. Instead of allowing the camp meeting to die, we should renew our efforts to bring it to new life. Far from being a dried relic of the past, camp meetings still provide the opportunity for many people to hear the message of Salvation and Scriptural Holiness.

Conferences drawing thousands of people are going on almost constantly all over the nation. At these conferences people spend thousands of dollars on admission, food, lodging, and the materials offered by the promoters. At these conferences people sit all day long listening to speaker after speaker, several days at a time.

At the Lehr Camp Meeting this year you won’t pay a steep admission charge, and no one will ask you to buy hundreds of dollars worth of materials. No, you won’t be worshipping at the Ritz-Carlton twenty floors above the city streets, but then you won’t have to pay their price. The food won’t be steak or lobster. But your experience at camp meeting can definitely change your life.

As children, Carol and both I stayed in a (wooden) tent with our grandparents at South Union Camp Meeting (www.SouthUnionCampmeeting.org) established in 1872 and located in central Mississippi. We can remember camp meeting days at South Union when we had to haul the water from the spring, and the floors under the open Tabernacle and in the tents were sawdust. We also remember the sight of altars covered with people seeking God and lives being changed.

As Carol and I grow in years, we become more convinced that our parents and grandparents gave us life's greatest treasure: a Christian home. Now, our prayer and passion is that we will be found trustworthy of offering that advantage to our children and grandchildren.

We believe that the God of the Scripture, the God who displayed His glory in the great camp meetings of the past, is the same God we worship today. He has not changed. He is no less able to turn the heart of a nation today than He was 100 years ago! All the social and political evils that threaten to be the undoing of our world today, all the false religions that vie for the allegiance of men – these are no match for our God. He is willing – yes, eager – to manifest Himself and His saving grace to this lost, prodigal planet. But first we must have a revived church. And a revived church consists of revived individuals.

The psalmist said, “You who seek God, let your hearts revive” (Psalm 69:32). If you will seek Him with all your heart, you can be assured that He will restore, renew, and revive you. One person, one family, one small group, one church, one camp meeting – no matter how “insignificant” – that is committed to seeking the Lord can become a part of the “awakened giant” that God will use to spread His glory and the fame of His name throughout the world.

As we seek Him with all our hearts, our prayer is that God will reveal Himself to us in fresh ways during Lehr Camp Meeting 2008; that He will revive our hearts, and that He will be magnified in and through our lives.

Buddy & Carol