God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
I was watching a program on the History Channel about the current phenomenon of “preppers.” I had never heard of them before. They are people who are convinced that our nation is going to collapse so they are investing thousands of dollars and all their spare time getting their kids ready for it. I love to talk about politics and economics (as well as many other subjects) I am amazed at all the conservatives that are pessimistic about the future, and the liberals are just as pessimistic. No wonder they cannot agree on a budget and a long-term plan to face the challenges that face our nation. I have talked to professors of macro economics and they share that the United States is on the slide and is a “has been.” I ask about all the restarts- renewals and revivals our economy has already experienced and how they know that we are not going to experience another one and they don’t have a good answer for me except pessimism. We have seen harder times. The burning of the White House during the war of 1812, the Civil War, times when we had to challenge issues such as slavery, racial prejudice or economic and political change or we were not going to make it. Incidentally each time the change was preceded by a great spiritual awakening. I believe that July the 3rd is one of the most important weeks of the year for you to go to church. If you love our country and have hopes for the future than we need to demonstrate for freedom. We need to remember how blessed we are and fortify ourselves for the challenge ahead by a spiritual renewal in our church that I pray will spread throughout our nation.
In recent history, everyone was saying we were on the way out and that we were going to lose the cold war. What happened then? What about when our economy was stagnate and a bunch of young people created billion dollar companies which carried our nation to a new level of prosperity and blessing for the whole world. This weekend, we will have the presentation of the colors by a Marine Color Guard (thank you Colonel Erskine Austin). We will sing the Star Spangled Banner. The amazingly talented Carly Delucia will sing God Bless America. An actor will recite the 7-minute Gettysburg address with slides and musical background that will stir the soul. The choir will honor those in our church who have served in the military by singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic. I am joining the choir this week along with a bunch of staff members. Travis is singing a song he wrote for a friend who left for Iraq. And I think I will have one of the best messages I have ever delivered in my 56 years. I am fired up about this one. Then Vietnam War veteran, Pastor David Gerzsenye will sing God Bless The USA accompanied by the children’s choir.
Right after the 11am service we will have a short dynamic picnic. Pastor Benjamin Smokovich is preparing a flag football game. Dave Irish will be in concert. Some of us will dance with our children or grandchildren. There will be a children’s carnival and a wonderful old-fashioned hamburger and hotdog meal put on by the men of the church. Of course there will be family swimming and just hanging out as we watch the blockbuster movie “Independence Day.” It will all be too good to miss. So make being at Washington Cathedral a priority to publicly demonstrate for freedom and spend time with some very good lifelong friends.
Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White
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