Olive Tree Ministries is hosting a spring conference this year!  Get information on time, location and other detatils as well as our fall 2010 "Understanding the Times" conference by clicking the conference banner above.
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Note from Jan: Gary Frazier is one of our speakers at our April 24 conference. His specialty is current events as it relates to the Bible and Bible prophecy.
Click on the above banner for all info. by Heidi Swander

In a keynote address to the Call to Renewal's Building a Covenant for a New America conference in June of 2006, Barack Obama stated, "Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation . . . at least not just.  We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, and a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of non-believers."  Sound familiar?  Yes, he's made this claim over and over again during his short political career. 

And as I mulled over my thoughts for this e-mail, I came to a conclusion that made my heart ache: The man has a point.  In fact, we are also a nation of greed, a nation of baby killers, and a nation of sexual perverts.  And, if the radical Left, socialists and Marxists have their way, the grand history of our dear America will be obliterated for good and those who represent the true foundation of this country will be forever silenced.

This country was founded as a Christian nation.  Patrick Henry, one of our Founding Fathers and the first governor of Virginia, is quoted as saying, "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians, not by religions, but by the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

In his newest book, America at the Tipping Point, author Gary Frazier says, "America was not founded to unite all the religions of the world under one new humanist religion that prohibits any claim to absolute truth, and demands that differences be ignored."  Our Founding Fathers were determined that America be birthed and forever remain a Christian nation.

So what happened?  How has a country birthed on the gospel of Jesus Christ stooped to the depths of depravity and rejection of our Savior that we see today?

In his book, Gary shows that ". . . it was the reinterpretation of the First Amendment that turned an attempt to level the playing field among Christian denominations into a government declaration of war on Christianity."  In 1803 Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association to reassure them that ". . . the Legislative Branch of government would not make it their business to establish a national church, and regulate the religious affairs of the people as had happened in Europe," Gary explains.  It is this letter, NOT the first amendment of the Constitution, which defenders of the "separation of church and state" use to defend their position, and they have completely twisted Jefferson's intentions in their rush to divorce faith from government.  

The other major factor in the downward trajectory of our nation's laws and morals was the doctrine of "judicial review,"  that, simply defined, means "the courts can overturn the people's majority vote by overturning a majority vote in the Congress that we elect, or by overturning laws enacted by state and local governing bodies, or laws passed by referendum.  They, in effect, made themselves kings, and gave themselves power over the executive branch that they were never intended to have."

Since the fallacious principle of separation of church and state, and the unconstitutional doctrine of judicial review have been nationally recognized, America has been -- morally, ethically and spiritually speaking -- a sinking ship.  We have seen such egregious dictums as the banning of prayer and the forbidding of the recitation of Bible verses in public schools, as well as the landmark decision to allow a woman to murder her unborn child for any reason.  Once you know what to look for, you can see the degradation of our society progressing in case after case decided by the Supreme Court throughout our history.

The question that begs an answer, then, is what do we DO about it (Psalm 11:3)?  Jan receives emails like this all the time:  "I'm despondent.  I'm watching our country sink and I feel helpless."  King David felt like this, even back in his day.  If we know there is a problem, but we feel helpless to DO anything, that's when hopelessness sets in.   God does not want us to wallow in gloom.  It doesn't accomplish anything.

In an earlier article I encouraged all of us all to keep our hope fixed on Heaven -- where our true citizenship lies.  Nevertheless what Gary says is true: "While our hope ultimately lies in God setting things right and in Christ's return, we need not accept defeat now while idly awaiting His soon coming.  We are to be about the Lord's work with the fervor and courage these troubled times demand."

America was founded as a constitutional republic.  By definition, a republic is, "A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them."  Scripture admonishes us to submit to our governing authorities.  Now there is a very real argument to be made for the fact that, as one pastor has written, "In America, 'we the people' are the government; we are the authority.  Nothing happens in this country except that 'we the people' promote it, finance it, or at least, allow it to happen." 

With this in mind, there are a number of actions we can take that Gary enumerates for us.  Let me give you a sampling:

Pay attention to what is taking place.  I have read, and it is true, that under our form of government, an informed and educated electorate is essential. There can be no lasting freedom without it.

Inform others and act. Find those who agree that what you see and hear happening is in violation of moral values and ethical standards . . . then discuss ways that a grassroots effort could help to bring about change, and do what is possible to implement the agreed-upon views.

Support candidates running for office that you know are reputable.  One good place to get information on pro-family, pro-life, pro-free-enterprise candidates is Gary Bauer's political action committee Campaign for Working Families.

Run for office.  People just like you sit on court juries and staff government bureaucracies. They become our sheriffs, lawyers, and judges. They represent us at the federal, state and local levels.

Encourage people to register to vote (and to vote!)

Pray without ceasing.

Gary has a lot more good ideas, but this will whet your appetite.  I encourage you to get his book and discover more about the founding of our great nation and how you can work and pray toward it remaining a country of liberty.  The fate of America is, ultimately, in our Father's hands.  He has an overall plan that will be fulfilled in His time.  But as we await the fulfillment of His Word, He will be pleased with any endeavor we make to promote righteousness in our country (Prov. 14:34).

Let this be a clarion call to action! "Burying our heads in the proverbial sand will not bring about the kind of change which the people of this great nation desire," Gary warns.  Let us, rather, be "a public voice for the eternal truths of God."

RADIO: The program from February 27 is now posted to"Radio Archives." Hear from Jerry Robinson on the economy and Bill Salus who raises the question, is the Middle East about to go apocalyptic. We air live Saturday, 9 to 11 AM out of Minneapolis/St. Paul on AM980 KKMS and AM1280 The Patriot.

KKMS replays the program Sunday 12 to 2 PM and The Patriot replays it Sunday, 8 to 10 AM. You can always "listen live."