Christian Nation?

I do believe that as we push Christian principles in the government of the US, it should be done under the rule of the Constitution. It is not a free for all. For example, it would not be ok to push a law that stated that everyone must confess Jesus Christ as Lord. I do think we need to be wise in how we approach issues and to do so based on Constitutional limitations. But Christian principles and obeying scripture should be what rules us as we make these decisions. The scripture is great at teaching us how to walk and how to make decisions that honor both the Constitution and God. Our Christian principles should never be left behind in anything we do nor should they be compromised.

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

Christian Nation?

I think there has been some confusion on whether this nation began as a Christian nation or not. The issue becomes muddled as people try to take one position or the other in some polarised version of an answer to this question. This nation was founded by men who were both Christian and not Christian. They were men who had an understanding of history and wanted to develop a country based on strong principles and foundations, learned from the lessons of history. And, yes, some wanted this nation to honor God. But even though all were not Christian, both non-Christian and Christian men drew many of their morals and principles from Christian and Biblical ideas. And there was a strong Christian influence in their thinking. So despite the fact that both non-Christian and Christian men founded this nation, Christian principles had a huge part in developing our nation. That cannot be denied. So even though you might say that this nation was not founded as a Christian nation, it is very clear that it had a very strong Christian influence in its development.

We do know this - the scripture is very clear that a nation is greater, when their laws are based on Christian principles. The Constitution is set up not to deter this, but to allow for those in government to make decisions based on principles, as long as they are not unconstituional.  So as Christians it is important that we bring our Christian principles into the way we make decisions in government. I think this is safe, because the scriptures tell us to honor the ruler of the land. In our nation, that is not a man, but the Constitution. So a Christian will try to honor the Constitution in the decisions they make and also respecting those constitutionally elected to offices.

My point is we cannot deny that Christian principles had a part in the founding of our nation, whether or not it was founded as a Christian nation. And, today, whether or not our nation is a Christian nation, we cannot separate our Christian principles from the decisions we make for our nation, nor do we need to be ashamed of our wanting to bring Christian principles into governmental decisions.

Let those who are mature think this way

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

It’s not perfection, but the pursuit that we are after. So often people fail because, they feel like they have to be perfect. We won’t be, but that doesn’t mean we give up. We are no longer in a pursuit to be perfect, Christ won that victory. We now have the freedom to pursue joy and to run hard in that pursuit with all abandonment into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained”. –Philippians 3:12-16

Training for one of the most important careers

Our society tends put an emphasis education and on training for a job, but little emphasis is placed on training our children for the most important career they will have - being a husband/wife, father/mother and keeping a home. These skills take a lifetime to learn and require purposeful and intentional training and growth. We are foolish if we take them lightly or wait till we are in those situations to learn. Thankfully God's grace is there for us all and God is a good trainer and shepherd, and if our hearts our willing to pursue these things He will be there.

Preparing older daughters in the home