For thanks-giving everyday
Hi all,
I saw the following last Sunday night about a thankful humanist:
This might have more information:
But true Christians should be much more thankful every day God allows them to live.
Prayer:
Oh compassionate, generous God please bless the church I attend with Your wonderful, unlimited goodness that only You have the power to know about or give to it. Of course it is up to You to decide what the blessing will be, and where, when, and how my church will receive. I trust You completely, wanting nothing more and nothing less than what You want to give it. I seek Your blessings as the ultimate value in life because I just want to say and do what You want. I am so thankful for all of the past blessings from You. My life is Your’s and I want it to bring more glory to You on Earth.
T-- is for the Trials, You've brought me through
H-- is for Heaven, where I'll one day, walk with You.
A-- is for All the times, I've fallen and You've picked me up
N-- is for No end to the times, You've filled my cup
K-- is for Keeping me safe and healthy, every day
S-- is for Saving me and teaching me, to live Your way
(author unknown)
Thankfulness-- ETRS (4 pgs.)-- https://app.box.com/s/du2mkk5qiy3sqtqzr499srig97hzxqb8
Did you know that Founding Father Ben Franklin wanted the turkey to be the United States National Bird? If that would have happened, we wouldn't be able to eat turkey anytime.
Good summary about a group of courageous people:
https://www.plimoth.org/learn/just-kids/homework-help/who-were-pilgrims
Holidays’ facts and suggestions-- https://www.box.com/s/5h0pwtafoxdpq9imz7b1
In other countries, like Germany, they celebrate in many churches Thanksgiving for good harvests on a Sunday in October. Church attendees bring a lot of food for everyone to eat after the service. Where I went, they had tables the length of the large sanctuary.
Note: I wrote this 5 months after I had moved to Germany to begin my Internet ministries.
My USA Glads
(by Bill Stevenson, November 26, 2004)
Note: Recently I was told that during the upcoming trip with my wife and mother-in-law, I must share USA with pride as if I have become un-patriotic since moving to Germany last year. But the Apostle Paul wrote that we should not boast about anything except about our Lord. So, I decided to write a list of what I am glad about in relation to the USA. They are not in order of importance. They are in sort of chronological order as I realized them from December 20, 1946 to June 7, 2003 (my time in the USA). This list will show that I am still glad to be a United States citizen. Via the Internet and CNN, daily I read a lot of the USA news and do a lot of praying for people in the USA. In my view, there are still more “goods” than “bads”, especially in the remaining freedoms, but the “bads” are rapidly increasing because of fears and selfishness. The USA is in danger of being conquered or destroyed.
1. The United States of America had the most wonderful beginning in world history because its Founding Fathers were believers in religious freedom, God, and the Bible. (Most nations at that time were Roman Catholic Church and were not to read the Bible personally. The Queen of England protested against that church by promoting the Calvin Bible in all English homes.) The Founding Fathers also realized from history that they should form a federal government with checks and balances of political power called a republic. They realized that every democracy had become either a dictatorship or anarchy. Their first attempt to write an agreement to create a republic form of national government was The Articles of Confederation which was quickly rejected. But their second attempt in The Constitution with the Bill of Rights provided a way for a Federal Government that has never had a violent change of power in over 200 years. Also, the flag of the United States is unique and symbolic. I am glad about all of what was mentioned in this paragraph, but the goodness of the Founding Fathers and the religious aspects of early USA history have been omitted in most school textbooks. I am also saddened that now the political leaders and most of the people think the USA has always been democracy (it actually started to become one in 1914) and are for socialistic changes along with lying and slander in election campaigns. I hate politics now.
2. I am glad about most of the history of the United States up to the Civil War in the mid-1800s. There were many examples of compassion and there was a wonderful pioneer spirit for exploring westward showing so much courage. Also, I am glad that so many people of various religious faiths were able to peacefully begin churches throughout the country. But I am concerned about the increasing religious prejudices. I have been a victim of such many times.
3. I am glad that the Civil War did not ruin the United States and that reconciliation between the states was accomplished.
4. I am glad for all of the soldiers in the wars that USA has been involved in who were fighting in order to help others have freedom too.
5. I am glad that the USA became the leading country in the world to provide for missionary work in all other countries. And that it helped Europe and Japan recover from World War II. I believe that God blessed the USA more than any country because of all of the unselfishness the USA showed in its beginnings, in its missionary work, and its foreign aid. All but one country have not paid the USA back for the loans given to them after World War II.
6. I am glad that so many people of different cultures have been able to succeed in the USA and for all of the inventions created by them. The USA has become spoiled with conveniences and low prices for so many things compared to most all of the other countries in the world. That is why so many want to relocate to the USA.
7. I am glad that non-Caucasian individuals have more rights and opportunities in the USA than in any other country in the world.
8. I am glad that I was born into a family which manifested a lot of good morals and ethics, and that I had parents who stayed together for 43 years.
9. I am glad that the USA used to have a good public school education system (up until 1970). I was mostly educated before the liberalizing of it. We did not need prayer and Bible teaching in schools because we had mostly responsible teachers and parents who exemplified and taught proper learning and relationship ethics.
10. I am glad that I have never had my life threatened by others or disasters (earthquakes, weather-related), which are common in many countries. I have been amazed by how so many citizens have helped in times of disaster in the USA, like in Florida after hurricanes, in the Midwest states after flooding, and after the 9/11 attacks in New York City. And look how San Francisco rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake caused fires and how quickly New York City is again the most popular tourist place again.
11. I am glad to have lived in a country that had so many wonderful places to see: museums etc. in cities, National Parks, and amusement parks, etc. I have been able to see a lot of such in my 56 years in the USA.
12. I am glad that I have been able to enjoy sports and marriage. In many countries, many individuals cannot afford the former and the latter is arranged by their parents. But I am very sad that there are so many problems in both of those areas now mainly because of the wrong uses of money and selfishness. Most pro teams have such a high turn-over (changes of personnel) because of free agency and trades. Most marriages end up in divorce or at least unhappiness because they were started for the wrong reasons. But still there is a lot of good in both sports and marriage.
Concluding remarks:
1 Corinthians 10:13 indicates that God knows how much we each can take in challenges and temptations. He knew that I could not take the dangers and oppressions found in most countries and so He had me born in the United States of America so that I could live in the best time of its history. I am forever grateful for that. So many more good experiences than the bad experiences. The USA has been the best country in the world for many reasons and I have always been a loyal thankful citizen. I will never be against the USA, only against the obvious wrong in it. I hope that there will be Christian revival to help return the USA back to a republic, but I doubt that such will happen because of the increasing selfishness and hatreds. The just mentioned daily grieves me. I tried to help go against such, but was not given ministry opportunities to do so. I am now using the Internet to do a small effort of sharing about what pleases God. What displeases Him is obvious. I want to help others have proper desires and goals in their thinking and doing. If I did not have the life that I was very blessed to have in the United States of America, I would not have the just indicated compassionate desires. I believe such was so prevalent in many citizens of the early USA population and that was greatness in history.
I have been a professional Christian curriculum writer and editor and proofreader, so I am very careful what I say, write, and teach. I try to understand what individuals, especially those who communicate English as a second language. I didn't judge you like you have indicated. Be careful in the future. As God via the Holy Spirit to help you understand what individuals are trying to communicate. Paul said that we "see through a glass darkly" meaning we are limited in understanding even the righteousness of God. Worldly wisdom is mostly very different and misleading. Also arguing is usually fruitless, but discussions, in which all want to learn the truths of God and are open to change their beliefs and opinions because of the just mentioned, are very fruitful. We should be looking for areas of agreement and avoid nonconstructive criticizing and condemn judging and belittling. We are to remember we are only thankful and meek "adopted children of God" and should have no pride and arrogance like the Pharisees in Jesus Christ time in human form were. And Romans 8:28 is appropriate in this discussion. Actually the context of the whole very important chapter, especially the following:
26 Likewise The Spirit also helps our infirmities.
For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought,
but The Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And He searching the hearts knows what is the mind of The Spirit,
because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He foreknew,
He also predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son,
for Him to be the First-born among many brothers.
30 But whom He predestinated, these He also called;
and whom He called, those He also justified.
And whom He justified, these He also glorified.
1-- Foundational Documents of the Genesis of the United States of America
https://app.box.com/s/yl150gqwk6d5biaj2w6ad5o0rmbc33bu
Good advice for USA-- https://app.box.com/s/xm6yr7lt3gct7nhysmfp