America will celebrate her 232nd birthday this month, on a day commonly and historically known as “Independence Day”.
We Americans pride ourselves on being independent and sing songs about freedom and pride and the like. Perhaps we need to take a fresh approach to our birthday parties. Perhaps humility would gain us far more freedom, and even joy, in the long run.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a BIG fan of America! I love my country, and love the 4th of July along with all of its festivities (including hot dogs and watermelon)! No, I’m not bashing the wonderful nation of the United States of America, rather I’m evaluating our values or the lack thereof. What I’m most concerned about as I write this blog, is not where we have come from, but where we are heading . . .
Our forefathers and mothers were men and women of faith, pioneers in every sense of the word.
We have become consumers, pleasure-seekers in every possible aspect of our lives
Our forefathers and mothers were not afraid to stand for what is true and right
We have lost our bearings and don’t even seem to know the difference between right and wrong (consider a recent poll taken by the Pew Forum for Religion for example: http://www.pewforum.org/)
Our forefathers and mothers understood that independence was earned by dependence on God, and resulted in interdependence and responsibility for one another.
We almost worship personal independence and have become isolated and lonely as a result.
How about you? How do the blessings of independence within America create within you a desire to care for and speak up on behalf of others? Especially women around the world who have no voice of their own? We want to hear from you on this topic, so please feel free to leave your comments!
Also, take just a minute or two and and vote in the poll below.
Other websites of interest : http://www.globalrichlist.com/ or http://www.reviveourhearts.com/
We Americans pride ourselves on being independent and sing songs about freedom and pride and the like. Perhaps we need to take a fresh approach to our birthday parties. Perhaps humility would gain us far more freedom, and even joy, in the long run.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a BIG fan of America! I love my country, and love the 4th of July along with all of its festivities (including hot dogs and watermelon)! No, I’m not bashing the wonderful nation of the United States of America, rather I’m evaluating our values or the lack thereof. What I’m most concerned about as I write this blog, is not where we have come from, but where we are heading . . .
Our forefathers and mothers were men and women of faith, pioneers in every sense of the word.
We have become consumers, pleasure-seekers in every possible aspect of our lives
Our forefathers and mothers were not afraid to stand for what is true and right
We have lost our bearings and don’t even seem to know the difference between right and wrong (consider a recent poll taken by the Pew Forum for Religion for example: http://www.pewforum.org/)
Our forefathers and mothers understood that independence was earned by dependence on God, and resulted in interdependence and responsibility for one another.
We almost worship personal independence and have become isolated and lonely as a result.
How about you? How do the blessings of independence within America create within you a desire to care for and speak up on behalf of others? Especially women around the world who have no voice of their own? We want to hear from you on this topic, so please feel free to leave your comments!
Also, take just a minute or two and and vote in the poll below.
Other websites of interest : http://www.globalrichlist.com/ or http://www.reviveourhearts.com/
5 comments:
I think it's hard for a pluralistic society like ours to find a rallying point we truly hold in common. We certainly struggle (or don't bother to struggle) with consumerism, but I have hope that a positive effect of globalization, enhanced communication means, and ministries like Partners International and Partners International Women will help Americans--especially American Christians--to find ways to use their freedom and vast resources for the advancement of the gospel in the far reaches of the world. I also hope and pray that the ongoing incredible movements of God's Spirit in cultural contexts hugely different from our own will spark in us a desire for greater unity and community (literally, togetherness) in how we worship in America as well as with our brothers and sisters in other nations. Most of all, I pray that we will regard our true freedom as coming from and being maintained in Christ, regardless of social and political conditions.
Well said. Perhaps a greater degree of struggle with the issues at hand will result in a greater sense of unity, "togetherness" and true freedom in Christ Jesus. I join you in this worthy prayer.
Dear sister Kim Kerr,
Yes, we will join you all and pray for America on the first Friday of July. Do you know that today is Friday, and there will be an overnight prayer meeting of our ladies in my house, I will tell all my sisters to pray for America. We Vietnamese owe you Americans a lot of prayers for many generations, surely we will pray for you.
Your sisters in Vietnam
Dear Kim Kerr,
Thanks for encourage me , its nice devotion.
I pray that the women in America will eagerly tell their kids about Jesus,
So early in children’s life they know Jesus, and it will guarantee their future in The Lord’s hands!
Blessings for America
Your prayer partner in Indonesia
As an Americian living in a forein land it is incredibly easy for me to understand your comments. Life in America is grand, however with the beauty of the freedom we have (freedom to worship as we please, to work as we please, spend and live as we please), I fear that we have taken our liberties and gifts from above much too far. I agree with the words of Ezekiel...woe to us who forget the freedoms we enjoy in our land and in Christ. May God forgive our selfishness and give us a burden and desire to give more of ourselves to Him and to our sisters around the world.
May God Bless your efforts and may He expand your ministry as He taps into His vast resources in our beautiful land of freedom.
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