Do you believe the world can be governed rightly without God? Evidently some people do. A recent publication in Parade, The World’s 10 Worst Dictators, shared stories that could make your toenails curl. Scanning this article opened my eyes to how blessed we are to live in America, and how awful that anyone should suffer and live in fear from those who wield absolute power over their people.

Reading how each of these dictators govern is a horror story. Several have absolute power, making life a living nightmare for any who dare contradict or create any opposition. These leaders surround themselves with armies and powerful people who enforce killing and torture. People are driven from their homes, thousands of citizens, including children, are imprisoned in labor camps for such ‘crimes’ as hoarding food and ‘anti-social’ activities. Practicing freedom of speech and religion carries a death penalty...age 15 for boys and 9 for girls, media is completely controlled by government, journalists find themselves locked up, women are targeted for sex slavery, and anyone spreading any information that the government believes tarnishes the reputation of their country is imprisoned for life. The end of the article gave a website where readers could find even more devilish dictators who rule their people wrongly.

The saddest part of this story was the U.S. link to the countries. Many of these countries supply America with goods with a ‘gotcha’ attitude. All ten countries were condemned by the United States, our leaders even called for the resignation of some of those dictators listed. Yet, we turn the other cheek and continue trading with them. Last year, China passed Japan as America’s #1 foreign creditor, and we imported about $340 billion worth of goods from China. Depending on Saudia Arabia for oil-importing $50 billion worth in 2008-has made our leaders overlook the issue of human rights in their country. Our leaders asked the #1 worst dictator to resign, but imports from Zimbabwe rose last year. What are we thinking?

My thoughts drifted to those countries where freedom does not reign, where people are pressured to do what the government declares...even where they know it’s not right, and how their lives are so different from mine and yours. The suffering they must endure is unfair...unthinkable! I crumbled the newspaper article and trashed it as quickly as I had scanned the tales of horror. I prayed for those countries and the poor people who can’t escape and enjoy life as God intended. My sadness for the injustice these people face was small in comparison with what our Lord must feel. A verse in His Word made me think of what God expects from all people as our creator and comforter. Mic. 6:8 “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Oh that all men could embrace these words, that we could live in harmony and walk humbly with God.

George Washington, America’s first president, stood tall and honored God as he governed. He set a standard of quality and was a living example of what we think great Americans should be. The cherry tree incident showed he was willing to confess his wrongdoing and move on. The most touching time of his leadership was when he kneeled in the snow at Valley Forge and asked God to aid his suffering, oppressed people. In 1783, he wrote a letter containing a prayer for the 13 states. He led our country for two terms and set a high standard for Americans. His words ring truth and honor to the God he served and loved when he said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible!”

The foundation on which our country was founded is filled with cracks that tear away the freedoms we take for granted. How could this happen we ask? Surely, the Romans asked the same question as they watched their envied empire crumble before their eyes. Teaching world history took me to events that touched my heart profoundly. My students felt my passion as we studied eastern world countries and shared how our country compares. The rise and fall of the Roman Empire intrigued me. How could a country who had it all...so foolishly lose it all? Their defeat came from within. The enemy recognized the strength of Rome. They planned and plotted, knowing victory would come when Rome least expected it if they could just get inside and tear them to pieces. Even though Rome seemed to be admired throughout the world, she was despised. The pride of the people and government led to the downfall of a mighty nation. Those who dared to bring down this giant watched and waited. When the people of Rome thought they were in complete control, they watched all they had worked for all their lives, all they believed in, even their lives completely destroyed. The enemy slipped in and snatched it all...overnight!

Could America be headed down the same road as Rome? Most of us don’t like to think on such things. The Bible teaches “whatever is lovely...think on such things” in Phil.4:8.

There are many lovely things happening in our nation, positive news events, miracles and great revivals throughout our land, healing, dynamic teachers and preachers sharing God’s Word, ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the name of our Lord, people singing and sharing God’s love (a new singing sensation, The Precious Little Jewels, have taken our own county by storm), marketplace ministries and organizations such as Relay for Life touching lives in profound ways...but we hear very little about such lovely things. We are saturated with sorrowful tales that have our nation in a tailspin...crime, corruption, and crud from our capitol to our communities. Sadly, ‘we the people’ are victims who are slowly sinking in a pit that promises defeat, unless we wake up and turn our eyes upon Jesus. I commend The Sampson Independent for pioneering in a place where many newspapers dare to trod. Sharing my stories, and those of other local believers, is a testimony of the faith and family roots that bind us as a community. I believe it is time we take a stand and speak loudly for the freedoms of religion and speech that unite us as one nation under God. Let us not take for granted what we can so quickly lose. It doesn’t happen overnight, but we all see how our morals and values, the Christian foundation on which our nation was founded, the humbleness and honor we should give to our God have eroded with time.

Long live America, the land of the brave and the free...keeping our liberties alive and well depends on you and me. It is time that we demand our government keep “In God We Trust” visibly and vocally heard around the world. The Trojan Horse is planted deeply within our land, but the God we love and serve is greater! God can save us from all the evils that plague our land, when we repent and put our faith in Him. Let our voices be heard as we pray and elect only Christian leaders who openly pray and profess their love for the Lord as did George Washington. We are a great nation, but the only way we will stand and survive is when we give Jesus our best as a people... and govern rightly with God! Amen.

Have you enjoyed the holidays? Most of us like holidays...those special times when the routine of the world seems to stop for awhile and we are transported into a new arena for a few hours or days. Christmas and New Years comprise such a time.

Those words come from a gift I found that brought joy to my heart this Christmas. The gift was hidden beneath piles of papers; the words above were penned by Dr. Jerry Hayner (January-1996) in his weekly column in our church newsletter entitled...”In The Meantime.”

A few weeks before the onset of the holiday season, my heart was heavy as I wrestled with decisions that rested solely on my shoulders. I have found that a loved one is missed most at such times. Determined to embrace independence and not be a burden is hard...even for the strong cookies who vow not to crumble.

My mornings begin before the sun brings light and warmth to our little corner of the world. This quiet time with my Father sets the tone for my day. It’s ironic that for thirty plus years, I yearned for retirement, when I could sleep late and say good by to an annoying alarm clock. I remember those cold mornings when we’d hit the snooze and say ‘five more minutes’ to cozy cuddling. Things change with new seasons in our lives. Rising early to study His Word and pray brings warmth and joy to my heart and home. I encourage you to make this a resolution with the dawning of a new year. Putting God first in our morning makes a difference in our day-our lives-our eternity! Often, spending time with our Father is squeezed to mere leftovers at the end of a long, grueling day. Confessing that you’re not an early riser is no excuse. We are quick to get up and go for things that we desire...ballgames, shopping, vacations; what could be more important than giving those first few minutes to the One who gives us life? When we spring from our warm, comfortable beds to talk with Him, He will walk with us throughout the day. Try it; your alarm clock will become obsolete as you rise and shine, yearning for uninterrupted time with your heavenly Father.

This cold December morning, my feelings were tangled as I plopped down on a chair beside my bed-staring in space...sinking in sadness. No particular reason pulled me toward this pit, but I was determined not to get stuck. The enemy plans every ploy possible to persecute, trapping us in pits of pity, anger, fear, and hopelessness. If we are to defeat the enemy, we must be grounded in God and never let down our guard. Studying His Word and spending time in prayer and meditation keeps us close to our Father God while empowering us to refuse the devil’s attempts to control our lives. Accepting God’s love and mercy, grace and goodness... gives freedom; we never have to live in despair and depression when we walk with God.

Beside my chair sat a wooden box bearing lighthouses and holding treasures from our lifetime. A strong sensation compelled me to lift it to my lap and look through Tim’s things. A bright, red folder caught my attention. Tim’s handwriting took me back to 1996 when he was chairman of deacons in our church. I held the folder close to my heart, then spent hours reading and remembering. That year, our interim pastor passed away. I held the paper in my hands where Tim made quick notes to share the sad news with our congregation the Sunday morning Dr. Hayner went to be with Jesus. Tim wrote, “Dr. Hayner’s impact...few men in my lifetime had this impact...my dad, Mr. Jones, and Dr. Hayner. He taught us to Do, Go, Be, that we are not made for mountaintops but for valleys...every day not just Sunday/ Monday thru Sunday, going into the real world where people are lost and need to be saved, where people are hurting and need healing, where people weep and need tears dried. My friend, Jerry Hayner, always had the right words for children, elderly, sick ones, for every situation and circumstance. Self was secondary as he continued to work in his own sickness. He even had words for today...’In The Meantime’. His ministry was one of Action, teaching us to give and receive blessings. The church is to be in the world, where Jesus would be were he still with us in the flesh. Our reason for being...to put people in touch with God. The church must seek-not wait. He taught us to have a strong prayer life, to seek God’s will. It is hard to understand but we must remember that God does not make mistakes.”

I closed the folder and opened my heart. I prayed and praised my Father through my tears and thanked Him for leading me to this special gift. It seemed like yesterday when Tim stood and shared his words of comfort with our church family. I remembered how proud I was of him that day, that year, every year of our lifetime together. Oh, how we loved Christmas! We hid special gifts for one another and had the time of our lives searching for them...when Santa finished his work. Finding my diamond on our Christmas tree was tops...until this year when I found the bright, red folder in our wooden box. My tears of joy told Jesus how happy I was that He led me to Tim’s gift this Christmas. There was a sweet, sweet spirit in my bedroom and in my heart...and I knew it was the spirit of the Lord.

God never fails us, for He sent His Son...a gift of love and sacrifice for all mankind. He smiled on me this Christmas with a gift that tenders my heart and touches eternity...forever and ever. As we celebrate a new year, let us remember that we are not made for mountaintops. We are to share His love...Do, Go, Be...every day, not just on Sundays. Let us go into the real world to help those who are lost become saved, those hurting receive healing, and those weeping find peace. Let us dry their tears and bring them joy by helping them find the greatest gift of all...Jesus. Greeting a new year brings reflection and renewal. While many worries and woes leave us to wonder how, why, what are we to do...we must fuel our faith and believe these words...”It is hard to understand but we must remember that God does not make mistakes.” And He doesn’t! He is always there to help us make those tough decisions and climb one more hill; we are never alone when we look and listen to our Father. May 2009 be a year filled with blessings, a closer walk with Jesus, and beautiful memories made with those you love and cherish. Rise and shine in 2009-give God your first few minutes each day, your first fruits, and He will become your very best friend...forever and ever. Amen!