The Foundations of Our Freedom In Psalm 11:3, the Bible gives to us a most vital message for the times in which we live. In this Psalm, David says, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?"Then in Luke 6:47-49, the Lord Jesus Christ speaks of two men who set out to build two houses. The first man digs deep and lays his foundation upon a rock, but the second man carelessly builds his house upon the earth, without digging and laying a sure foundation. Then when the storm came, the first house stood strong, "for it was founded upon a rock." However, the second house immediately fell, "and the ruin of that house was great."The forefathers of our nation were well aware of this profound truth. Unlike most of the current leaders of our country, the men who established our Bill of Rights were, for the most part, men who BELIEVED in something and STOOD FOR IT. These men lived in a time when people still had RESPECT for good moral standards and godly living. They weren't all Christians, but there was still a reverence for God and the Bible. This was a time when Americans had a FEAR OF GOD before their eyes, and sin was kept down to a minimum. This was a time when God the Holy Spirit could move about and find some men to get a job done. Friend, this was a time when some SOLID FOUNDATIONS could be laid for our nation.So they were laid. One only has to read Benjamin Franklin's appeal to President Washington for a National Day of Prayer to realize the truth in the above statements. Franklin's appeal reads in part:"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine Protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard -- and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor. . . . And have we now forgotten that powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need its assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow can not fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?We have also been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that 'except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.' (Psalm 127:1) I firmly believe this, and I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel. . ."Our nation was built by men who knew that an empire without a solid foundation could not stand. Our nation was built by men who knew that we needed God's help if we were going to become a strong nation. In 1789, both Houses of Congress requested that President Washington recommend to the American people a day of public THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, and he did so. Washington himself, from the very start, knew that our young country must have the blessing of God for survival. After placing his hand on a Bible and taking the oath of office on April 30,1789, President Washington made his views very clear concerning the source of authority:"It would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this official act, my fervent supplication to that Almighty Being, Who rules over the universe, who presides in the council of nations, and whose providential aid can supply every human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States. . . Every step by which they have advanced seems to have been distinguished by some providential agency. . . . we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained."Good foundations were laid. Our liberties were built upon basic Bible principals, and it is for this very reason that we have become the great nation that we are today. However, IF THE FOUNDATIONS BE DESTROYED, WHAT CAN THE RIGHTEOUS DO?Friend, for FAR TOO LONG we have stood silently by the wayside and allowed the Devil and his evil forces to HACK AWAY at the foundation stones of our country! While looking out for our own selfish desires, we have allowed the enemy to slip in and literally KNOCK our foundations out from beneath us! As Asaph says to us in Psalm 82:5, "They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course."Satan is destroying the foundations of our freedom. In this brief message, we'd like to do our best to point out SOME of these foundations that are under attack. Hopefully, we can encourage someone to stand up and fight for our God-given freedom while there is still time.THE FOUNDATION OF BIBLICAL AUTHORITY"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Joshua 1:8.There was a time when Americans were a Bible reading people. There was a time when the common citizen believed God's word to be far more dependable than science, philosophy, and traditions of men (Col. 2:8; I Tim. 6:20). Horace Greeley said, "It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible reading people." But we have ceased to be Bible readers. Today, there is only an OUTWARD PROFESSION of belief in the Final Authority of Scripture. Inwardly, the average American lives as though the Bible had never been written.Modern men are ASHAMED to be associated with the Bible. Satan is using science and education to make the Bible look old fashioned and archaic in the eyes of twentieth century man. People are naturally looking for an alibi to sin; so the Devil gives them science and education to "disprove" the Bible. It seems that the American people have forgotten that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." II Tim. 3:16-17.The problem that people are having with the Bible is that they DON'T LIKE WHAT IT SAYS. As Mark Twain once said, "Most people are bothered by those passages in scripture which they cannot understand; but as for me, I always noticed that the passages in scripture which trouble me are those which I DO understand." Friend, there's nothing wrong with God's Book. The problem is with people who want to live like the Devil and allow our most important foundation stone to be destroyed.We must restore the foundation of Biblical authority, or our nation will soon meet a tragic end like all the rest. There isn't one nation in history who has continued as a major world power without giving the word of God preeminence. Queen Victoria said, "Tell your prince that THIS BOOK is the secret of England's greatness." How right she was. The foundation of Biblical authority must be restored, or the United States of America will cease to be the "land of the free and the home of the brave.""But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD. . ." Jer. 12:17.THE FOUNDATION OF MORALITY"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12."Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principal." --George WashingtonIt was Immanuel Kant who said, "It is God's will, not merely that we should be happy, but that we should MAKE OURSELVES HAPPY. This is TRUE MORALITY." Of course, Kant was an idiot. God never said that it is His will for us to "make ourselves happy." That's a satanic philosophy, which eventually ends with, "If it feels good, then do it." Jesus Christ said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23. The "don't worry, be happy" philosophy will damn your soul to Hell.The nation of Israel was HAPPY because she was saved, and God was on her side (Deut. 33:29). Solomon's servants were HAPPY because they continually stood before him to hear his God-given wisdom (I Kings 10:8). The Lord Jesus said, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." John 13:17. Happiness isn't something that God expects us to PURSUE; happiness is something that we receive while doing the will of God. Our goal should be to PLEASE GOD, not to please ourselves. Happiness is a God-given REWARD, not a human goal, because true happiness cannot be found apart from God (Psalm 144:15). A continual pursuit of happiness will drag a nation down to the lowest moral standards known to man, because men are SINNERS BY NATURE (Psalm 51:5; Rom. 3:23). If a man's goal is happiness, then his philosophy is "Whatever makes me happy is right FOR ME." If having sexual acts with a child makes him "happy," then it's "right" FOR HIM. If hacking up a dozen people with a butcher knife makes him "happy," then it's "right" FOR HIM. This "make ourselves happy" philosophy is the philosophy of every sex pervert and every dope addict in America. There MUST be a moral standard.The Bible lays the moral standards for all men to live by, and these standards are for our own good. God expects us to look to His word to determine right from wrong. The Bible should lay the foundation of morality in America, and there was a time when it did.There was a time when the drinking of liquor and beer was mostly associated with bars, smoking, gambling, dancing, fornication and prostitution. However, TODAY, drinking has become more "respectable" in our society. We've allowed liquor to be "dressed up, " and we attempt to justify our sins with terms like "social" or "moderate drinking." LIQUOR IS STILL THE SAME BLOODY KILLER IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN (See Prov. 20:1; 23:20-21; Isa. 5:22; Gal. 5:21). Drinking is MORALLY WRONG, and two hundred years ago the average American knew it as well as he knew his own name. What happened?The American CONSCIENCE has been terribly defiled by newspapers, magazines, and television. Thirty years ago, modern TV programs would have been totally unacceptable to the American public, but today the American conscience has been slowly CHANGED and CONDITIONED to smile at sin.A perfect example of this "progress" is the so-called Gay Rights Movement. Before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the sex perverts were still hid in their closets because they knew they were LIVING IN SIN AND REBELLION AGAINST GOD (Gen 13:13, 18-19; Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Deut. 23:17; Rom. 1:21-27). However, over the past thirty years, these people have come OUT of their closets to form organizations to PROMOTE their filth. Sex perversion is SIN, and the solution will never be found on NBC, ABC, or CBS. The solution is found in THE BIBLE.God doesn't change (Malachi 3:6); so SIN IS STILL SIN. Sex is for married people (Heb. 13:4), long hair is for women (I Cor. 11:14-15), wine is for sick people (I Tim. 5:23), smoking is for people in Hell (Rev. 14:11), and rock music is for pagan idolaters (Dan. 3:5; Exodus 32). Are these "old fashioned" standards? YES! Should we adapt new standards? NO, because God didn't tell us to. God told us to "ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. . ." Jer. 6:16. It is our responsibility to live clean and moral lives in the sight of God, regardless of anyone else's opinion.Our nation was built upon a strong foundation of morality, and that foundation is rapidly crumbling before our very eyes.THE FOUNDATION OF THE FAMILY"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord." Col. 3:18-20."There is no synthetic replacement for a decent home life. Our high crime rate, particularly among juveniles, is directly traceable to a breakdown in moral fiber--to the disintegration of home and family life. Religion and home life are supplementary. Each strengthens the other. It is seldom that a solid and wholesome home life can be found in the absence of religious inspiration." --J. Edgar HooverThe first family began when God created Adam and Eve. God made it clear that the man was to be the authority in the home (Genesis 3:16). Many these days are blaming the collapse of the American family on the women's movement, but it's actually man's fault. There would be no women's movement if the American man would "bear rule in his own house." Esther 1:22. The breakdown in the family unit is not the fault of rebellious teenagers. It's the fault of irresponsible parents, usually fathers, who have failed to "train up a child in the way he should go." Proverbs 22:6. By nature, women and children look to the man for authority (I Cor. 11:3), and when the man neglects to properly exercise his authority, the family will become rebellious.It's true that some homes are destroyed by the actions of women and children, but the main trouble usually lies with the man. Instead of showing his thanks to God for his wife and children by raising up a strong Christian family and spending lots of time with them, the American man has his eyes on the material things of this world. It's killing his family, and it's killing our nation by setting improper examples for the younger generation. Today's man will meet the PHYSICAL needs of his family, while neglecting to meet the SPIRITUAL needs. His home falls apart SPIRITUALLY, while he lives entirely in the physical realm.The TV is a good example of this. When it was first invented, there were many good men who refused to bring one into their home, for they knew it would harm the close family unit. How many families do you know TODAY without a TV? You see, Satan has put on the pressure for so long that we have let down our guard, and the enemy has overcome us.Walk into your "living room" and look around. Notice how the chairs and the sofa are all FACING THE TV! It has become A GOD in the American home. People spend HOURS each day with TV, while the Bible lies sadly untouched on a nearby table. Friend, our country wasn't built this way, and it can't survive this way. God will NOT stand for it.In 1920, there was one divorce for every seven marriages in America; in 1940, there was one divorce for every six marriages; in 1960, there was one divorce for every four marriages; in 1980, the figure reached one out of two. Today (1994), TWO OUT OF THREE MARRIAGES ARE ENDING IN DIVORCE! No nation in history has ever survived under such conditions.The rock music industry is destroying the minds of our youth, while parents "innocently" stand aside, refusing to do anything about it. Parents, WILD AND CRAZY MUSIC WILL PRODUCE WILD AND CRAZY PEOPLE! Just look around! The American parents have become irresponsible and careless CHILD ABUSERS of the worst kind--SPIRITUAL abusers. Dad, are your children going to Heaven or Hell? What are you doing about it? Do you even care?THE FOUNDATION OF EDUCATION"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs. 22:6."I am much afraid that the universities will prove to be the gates of Hell, unless they diligently labour to explain the Holy Scriptures and engrave them upon the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution where men are not unceasingly occupied with the word of God must become corrupt." --Martin LutherThe first public school in America was founded by the Puritans of Boston in 1647. The word of God was placed at the center of the curriculum, because they said it is ". . . . one chief project of that old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures."Eighty-eight of the first one hundred colleges in America were organized to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. John Witherspoon, first President of Princeton University, said, "Cursed be all learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ." In 1754, King's College (now Columbia) advertised that "The Chief thing that is aimed at in this college is to teach and engage children to know God in Jesus Christ." Harvard had a set of Rules and Precepts in 1646, which stated that "Everyone shall consider the main end of his life and study to know God and Jesus Christ which is Eternal Life." Fifty-two percent of Harvard's seventeenth century graduates became ministers.So what has happened? They forsook the Book, and God forsook them. Their foolish heart has been darkened. As a result, the average American school today is nothing less than a humanistic jungle.The National Education Association has actually admitted that the main goal of education today is "CHANGE." Their goal is to CHANGE your child into a Christ rejecting, Bible rejecting, humanistic clone. Academic achievement is no longer the primary goal of American education. The goals of the N.E.A. match the goals of the Humanist Manifesto II, and, as a result, today's college graduates make up one of the biggest bunch of infidels who ever lived.A splendid example of this great departure from the truth is Darwin's Theory of Evolution, the belief that men have "evolved" upward from animals. Historically, Creation was taught in the public schools. Then Evolution was added to the curriculum. Then Creation was DROPPED, because it was said that both couldn't be true. Why didn't they drop Evolution and keep Creation? There's much more evidence to support Creation than there is to support Evolution. So how did this hellish doctrine get into our schools? WE LET IT HAPPEN. Instead of fighting in defense of the TRUTH, we stood aside and allowed the Devil to kick the Bible clear out of the schools and replace it with his own damnable doctrines. We are taking our liberties for granted, and the Devil is taking our nation to Hell.What is the American educational system? According to George Reiseman, Professor of Economics at Pepperdine University, "This is no longer an educational system. Its character has been completely transformed, and it now clearly reveals itself to be what for many decades it has been in the process of becoming: namely an agency working for the barbarization of youth."The foundation of education in America is being destroyed. It's either back to the Bible or BACK TO THE JUNGLE. Take your pick.THE FOUNDATION OF GOOD GOVERNMENT"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." Proverbs 29:2."It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." --George WashingtonWhen President Washington took office, he refused financial compensation. It was not his desire to be President. The people of this nation wanted Washington in office because they knew from his previous wars that he was a natural leader of great faith and courage. We aren't trying to give Washington more honor than he deserves, but it is important for us to realize that MONEY and POWER were not his motives, as they are with most politicians today. The Bible says in I Timothy 6:10 that "the love of money is the root of all evil." Psalm 62:11 tells us that "power belongeth to God." It doesn't belong to man. A politician who is seeking money and/or power will drag his nation straight to Hell. A man's motive for holding a public office should be to BENEFIT HIS COUNTRY, not to benefit himself.A good leader in government will strive to uphold the Bill of Rights, and he will do this regardless of anyone's opinion about it. He will OPPOSE minorities who are out to overthrow the constitution. He will have the guts to ignore the God-hating news media, and he will not use "good words and fair speeches" to deceive the nation (Romans 16:18). Opinion polls mean nothing to a good leader, for he'll do things that are RIGHT, not things that are popular.We are in desperate need of good leaders today. We need some men who will fight to put the Ten Commandments back into the schools. We need some leaders who believe in religious freedom, the right to bear arms, and capital punishment. We need some leaders with COMMON SENSE and GUTS who will step in and fight to restore the foundation of good government.THE FOUNDATION OF SALVATIONFriend, perhaps you've read this message and you can see what a mess our nation is in. Perhaps this message has depressed you somewhat, and you can't see much hope for the future. We do not delight in such negative messages as this, but we must be HONEST with you and give you the facts. Up till now, the news has been mostly bad, but now we have the GOOD news. . .In spite of what happens to the foundations of our freedom in America, there is One Foundation that the Devil can't touch! He may blind the masses from seeing the need for this Foundation, and he may do everything possible to keep you away from this Foundation, but he can never DESTROY this Foundation. Paul says in I Corinthians 3:11, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Just as the wise man built his house upon a rock, you can build your life upon Jesus Christ. Satan has raised up many false foundations to distract and deceive you, but Jesus Christ is still alive and well for those who are willing to repent of their sins and turn to Him alone for Salvation.The Bible says, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18. You are a sinner by nature. You were born a sinner (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12). Sinners are alone in this world--without hope and without God (Eph. 2:12). "All we like sheep have gone astray. . ." Isaiah 53:6. But Jesus said, ". . . . the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10. Without Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you are "condemned already" to the Devil's Hell (John 3:18), but God has provided a way out for you. You can escape the fires of Hell by setting your feet upon the solid Foundation--the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you interested?Romans 10:9 says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Jesus Christ died on Calvary's cross and PAID for your sins so YOU wouldn't have to. By placing your trust in His shed Blood as a payment for your sins, you can be born again (John 3:3) this very moment. You can have ETERNAL LIFE in Christ TODAY. Today, you can become a "son of God" by RECEIVING Jesus Christ as your Savior (John 1:12). "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13. If you really mean business with God, then pray right now in your own words and ask Jesus Christ to cleanse you from all sin in His precious Blood (Rev. 1:5). If you need more information about Salvation, please contact us immediately, for there is nothing more important in your life than your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian, please consider ordering a few copies of the message you've just read and distribute them to your family and friends. Don't let it be said in Eternity that America fell and YOU did nothing to stop it. May God bless you and help you to make the right decision. By James L. Melton http://www.biblebelievers.com/jmelton/order.html

Royal Seal of Prophet Jeremiah’s Accuser Found JERUSALEM—During the last days of the kingdom of Judah, the Prophet Jeremiah warned the residents of Jerusalem of their impending captivity at the hands of the Babylonian army. But instead of heeding that warning message, the princes of King Zedekiah’s administration attacked the messenger and plunged him into the depths of a miry dungeon (Jeremiah 38:1-6).One of Jeremiah’s accusers, Gedaliah the son of Pashur, had his name stamped on a small clay seal that was recently discovered about 600 feet south of the Temple Mount. Dr. Eilat Mazar, one of Israel’s top archaeologists, found the bulla earlier this year, in mint condition, while wet-sifting debris excavated under a tower at the north end of the City of David—the original site of ancient Jerusalem. ...to Read Entire Article
http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?q=5367.3662.0.0

Minister gets jail for stealing flock's identities August 14, 2008 - 8:59pm
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) - A Baptist minister in central Pennsylvania has been sentenced to one year in jail for stealing the identities of his church members.
Raymond Clayton Sr., 44, was also ordered to pay more than $28,000 in restitution at his sentencing Wednesday. Clayton is the former pastor of Grace Fellowship Church near Mount Carmel.
Federal prosecutors said Clayton used parishioners' personal information to obtain credit cards between November 2006 and April 2007. He pleaded guilty in March to access device fraud.
The church has since disbanded.

Who Will Guard the Guards?
By Chris RoddaThe Public Record Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Published in : Religion
In a news release dated July 23, 2008, Americans United for Separation of Church and State announced that it has asked the Department of Defense (DoD) to investigate the "Free Day Away" program at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
In its letter to acting DoD Inspector General Gordon Heddell, Americans United (AU) notes a previous investigation of "Free Day Away," conducted by the Fort Leonard Wood Inspector General. That Inspector General determined that this clearly coercive and, according to reports from numerous soldiers, unavoidable religious program was voluntary and did not violate the rights of the soldiers. Obviously, as AU points out in its letter, the base Inspector General investigating a program that is not only condoned, but promoted, by the same base commander he reports to raises objectivity concerns, which is why AU is asking for an investigation by the presumably more objective DoD Inspector General.
But, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) has learned from experience that pursuing complaints of religious discrimination, coercion, or harassment through any military channel is all but pointless, whether a chain of command, an Equal Opportunity Officer, or even he DoD Inspector General. This is why MRFF is pursuing its case against the Department of Defense in the federal courts.
MRFF did get the DoD Inspector General to investigate the participation of military officers who appeared in a Campus Crusade for Christ Christian Embassy promotional video, and although issuing a 47-page report finding seven officers, four of them generals, guilty of violating a number of military regulations and recommending that "appropriate corrective action" be taken, not a single one of the officers was punished. In fact, two of them were soon promoted. Maj. Gen. Robert L. Caslen, Jr., a brigadier general at the time of the Christian Embassy scandal, remained in his position of Commandant of Cadets at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point until May 2, 2008. His promotion to major general was confirmed by Senate on April 29, 2008, and he has now been appointed to the prestigious position of Commanding General of the 25th Infantry Division. Col. Lucious Morton, a lieutenant colonel when he appeared in the Christian Embassy video, was selected to attend the U.S. Army War College, and was promoted to colonel on October 1, 2007, less than three months after the DoD Inspector General's report. Preston M. "Pete" Geren, who, as a civilian employee of the Department of Defense was not subject to military regulations when he appeared in the Christian Embassy video, was confirmed as Secretary of the Army by the Senate on July 16, 2007.The DoD Inspector General's report also completely evaded the promotion of religion issue, instead watering their investigation down and finding the officers guilty of endorsing a "non-federal entity."
http://www.pubrecord.org/religion.html

Pastor Zhang “Bike” Mingxuan and Wife Arrested Posted Aug 06 2008
China Aid Association, Inc.Tel: (267) -205-5210Fax: (432)-686-8355E-mail: <info@ChinaAid.orgWebsite: <http://www.chinaaid.org/ <http://www.monitorchina.org/Contact: Daniel Burton - (432) 689-6985Photo: Pastor Bike Zhang Sharing the Bible with Youth in China CAA has been informed that President of the Chinese House Church Alliance and Personal Friend, Pastor Zhang “Bike” Mingxuan, has been arrested along with his wife and fellow pastor, Wu. The three were detained by the PSB of Zhengzhou City, Henan Province. Pastor Zhang was on his way to deliver medicine to his ill wife when he was detained. All three are being held at Jing Ba Lu Branch PSB office in Zhengzhou City, the Capital of Henan Province.
Please join with us as we pray for the safe and immediate release of Pastor Zhang his wife and Pastor Wu.
The contact number for Jing Ba Lu Branch PSB office is:
+86-37163931313
Issued by CAA August 6, 2008
http://chinaaid.org/2008/08/06/pastor-zhang-bike-mingxuan-and-wife-arrested/