Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX

Let me introduce you to the Christian flag. It actually is one of the oldest  unchanged flags in the world.  It was conceived at Brighton Chapel, Coney Island, New York, on September 26, 1897.

It was the start of church school year, Rally Sunday. I imagine a muggy, sticky, Sunday morning like many of us are experiencing.  I imagine lots of squirming children crowded into pews. There was to be an out-of-town speaker. But the speaker did not show. I imagine children getting restless, ponytails being pulled, spitballs flying. Sunday school superintendent Charles C. Overton charged in to save the day.

There was an American flag draped over the pulpit (where the speaker should have been speaking). Overton talked to the children about the symbolism of the American flag. Then in a flash it came to him: Why not a Christian flag? He made up the design for a Christian flag on the spot, explaining it to the children verbally as he developed it.

Quick thinking! Pretty impressive. It took Overton a whole week to present the first Christian flag to his church. It was exactly as he had described;  it has never changed.

We Christians live under dual citizenship. We are citizens of the kingdom of God first and then of our country. I believe the best thing we can do for our country, the most helpful thing we can do for our country, is to try to understand God’s will for America and to struggle to do it. Patriotism is never “Our country, right or wrong,” as Stephen Decatur once said. Rather it’s “Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right. When wrong, to be put right,”as Senator and newspaper editor Carl Schurz responded.

This information was taken from the book Holidays Are Holy Days: Sermons For Special Sundays by Alex A. Gondola, Jr

Our flag is an important symbol for us as Americans.  It is an important symbol known world wide.  To some in other countries it is a beautiful sight and represents hope and help; to some it is a sign of oppression and occupation. 

While we love and respect our flag, there is another flag that we as Christian Americans must love and respect.  It is the Christian Flag.  It has the same colors as the American flag: red, white, and blue, but, the cross is central instead of the stars. The white symbolizes the purity of a life lived in Christ, the blue our loyalty to Jesus, the red his shed blood.

There actually is a Pledge of Allegiance to the Christian flag: “I affirm my loyalty to the Christian flag and to our Savior whose cross it bears, one spiritual fellowship under that cross, uniting us in service and love.”

There is a protocol for displaying it also. Wherever it is displayed around the world, it is supposed to be displayed to the right of the national flag, in the place of honor.

On this Fourth of July weekend let us remember that most of us live under two flags: the American flag (most of us are Americans) and the Christian flag (most of us are Christians). We owe obedience and loyalty to both, and both are worthy of respect.  Our scriptures give us Christian values that support and encourage loyalty to our government and it’s leaders.  Loyalty to God and Christ come before anything else and lead us into being the citizens God calls us to be.

This is the week leading up to July 4th.  I hope everyone enjoys the holiday.  This picture is of my grandson Brady and his birthday cake.  If it looks like a patriotic theme, it is.  His birthday is July 4th.  His mom has his party a week early so more kids will be there.

When we consider all of the reasons we have to be patriotic, it is hard to think negatively. While everything is not perfect, it is still a great nation to live in.  When we consider all of the reasons we have to be Christians and consider the teachings of Jesus Christ, it is hard to be negative.   While none of us are perfect, we can strive to grow closer to the example that Christ has given us.  Being a faithful Christian helps us to be better citizens by reaching out to our neighbors, to help in any way we can.  Happy 4th of July.

God’s Peace and Blessings to all in this great nation we live in!  Remember to pray for our President and Congress.

Pastor Randy

Jane and I have been seeing a lot of Redbirds in our back yard.  I wish I could say that this is a picture of one of them; it’s not.  I cannot get them to sit still long enough or close enough for my camera to get a good picture.

When you think about the variety of colors you see in nature, it really is something to be amazed about.  Think about the ability to see those colors.  Mind boggling isn’t it.  God has created many wonderful sights in the world He has given to us.   Be amazed at them and thank God for them.   All of the sunrises and sunsets we are able to enjoy.   All of the natural scenery like the Grand Canyon or the Painted Desert.  Beautiful artwork by a God capable of things beyond our understanding.   Really all we can do is have faith that He is God and His Son came to save us.  Be faithful and enjoy all that He has given you.  

Be at Peace and filled with the joy of the Lord,  Pastor Randy

Melvin Croaker took this beautiful sunset when he and Pam were in Maui this past winter.  Thanks for the beautiful picture Melvin.  Now I gotta go sometime.

Melvin and Pam are very good friends of Jane and I.  Our kids are the same ages; grew up together and went to school together at WOS.  I quess we have known each other since our mid twenties or so.  Melvin has cancer and is fighting with everything he is.  I know his faith is keeping him strong and fighting hard.  Keep him in your prayers.  He is a good man whom many people call a good friend.  While you are praying, include Pam in those prayers.  She is Melvin’s primary care giver and is doing all she can to help Melvin through this very difficult time.

God’s Peace and Blessings to all, Pastor Randy

Sometimes as a Father you see so much love.  Your children sit on your lap, give you a hug, lay their head on your chest or snuggle up to your neck and just lay there.   The only thing that compares is when your grandchildren do the same things.   What a wonderful feeling to know that you are loved by your children and your children’s children.  

As parents we sometimes fail at our jobs of turning out perfect little human beings that never talk back, never throw fits, never lie, never hit their siblings and I could go on and on about our failures but we all know where we have failed and where we have done the best we could as parents.   We also know that our children have to grow up and learn things for themselves and no matter how much we advise them sometimes they just have to do it themselves.   Most of the time those failures result in our children learning life’s lessons the hard way, by trial and error.   Sometimes it works out okay and sometimes not.   But all the time we are called to love them no matter what.

It may or may not be that we are bad parents.   It may be our children’s temperment.   We are all born into this world, our God has given us, as individuals who will grow and always strive to be independent.

When our lives are not intertwined with the teachings of Jesus Christ we do not teach our children the right way to live their lives and then perhaps our children do not teach their children and they keep making the same mistakes over and over.   Somewhere along the way someone will witness to one of those children and they will see the error in their lives.     Witness today to the children of the world.   You see you can be of any age and be a witness.  

Children raised in the way of Jesus Christ will be able to witness to their peers and those younger or older than themselves.   Be a child, come to Jesus Christ as a child of God with a childlike heart.   Accept Him as the one to lead you through your life while you are leading others.    Fatherhood is an awesome responsibility.   God trained His Son up right and so should we train our sons and daughters.    Fathers love your children.   Children love your fathers.  Remember that your Father in Heaven loves you know matter what you have done or mistakes you have made.   He sent His Son to show us the way and to forgive us whatever it is we have done.   Repent and believe.   Have a great Fathers day with the Spirit of God your Heavenly Father.

Happy Father’s Day to all you Dads, young and old, be blessed in your fatherhood.

Pastor Randy

The picture has nothing to do with the blog except to remind us to take a few moments and pray that we will allow God into our thoughts throughout the day.

In the previous blog I mentioned the five types of men.   The first type was “Men who need a relationship with Christ.”    The Scripture that is mentioned in the book for this type are Romans 6:23 and 1 John 5:11-12.  These Scriptures talk about knowing Christ and having eternal life.  These are men who are not Christians and know they aren’t and most of them don’t go to church.   Some of the traits typical of this type are: May come to church with his family occasionally – think Mother’s day or Easter.   A neighbor or coworker someone brought to the Men’s BBQ or Superbowl Party.    Guys who play on the church softball team or show up for Friday Night Basketball in your church gym.    A man who comes to the Christmas Play or Easter Cantata.  

Think about your friends who may fit some of these descriptions.  They are not all inclusive but if you look for them and plant the seeds Christ calls you to, you may be seeing them more often in your own church home.   Perhaps they will find another church home.    All good results as long as they attend a Christian Church.   Remember your actions in the world reflect Christ in your life.   Your actions are the spiritual nourishment that will water the seeds that are planted by others.   We are sent to the ends of the earth to call people to Jesus Christ. I cannot think of a more important reason to be a witness to Jesus Christ than the promise of eternal life for those who hear His Word and accept Him as their savior. 

Have a blessed weekend,  go to church,  its a great way to start your week out,

Pastor Randy

From left to right AKA: Harold Bellow, Ricky Bellow, Randy Branch.  Just men having fun at a church outing.

Since Fathers day is around the corner and most men are fathers, I wanted to take the next four days to use some quotes out of the book  “No Man Left Behind;”  a book about getting men involved with Christ and His Church.  According to the authors there are five types of men:

1.)  Men who need a relationship with Christ.  Men who are not Christians and know they aren’t.  Most don’t go to church.  – Romans 6:23, 1 John 5:11-12.   2.) Men who are cultural Christians (men on the fringe)  – Matthew13:22.  3.)   Men who are biblical Christians,  or want to be.  Matthew 13:23.   4.)  Men who are leaders, or want to be. -2 Timothy 2:2   5.)  Men who are hurting.  –  Galatians 6:2.

Of the 108 million men in America, 66 million make no profession of faith in Jesus Christ.  This means over 60 percent of men need Christ.  Of the 42 million men who do make some kind of profession of faith in Christ, only an estimated six million are involved in any kind of ongoing spiritual development (one out of seven).  This means that about 36 milion men in America are cultural Christians.  The six million biblical Christians are an estimated 5.5 percent of the general population.   In our experience something like 20 percent of biblical Christians are leaders.

I don’t know what you think about these figures but it sure looks to me like there is one huge evangelism field out there for those of us who are committed Christians.  Men and Women of God lets get to work doing God’s Will in this world through our witness.  All of you who are fathers and are committed Christians it is time to make a difference in this world.  Be a committed Christian at work and at play.  People will notice but most importantly Men will notice.  Perhaps some will change their lives because of your Christlike ways.  Remember category five above, Men who are hurting,  because men can be hurting in whatever category they fall in. 

Have a blessed day,  Pastor Randy

Father’s Day is just around the corner.  For those of you who have forgotten here is a reminder, its Sunday 6-20-2010, just four days from now.  That’s my Dad in the picture with my Mom.  Still a pretty good looking couple at 89 and 90.  When I took this picture we were waiting at a restaurant on Mother’s Day.  This scene may be repeated on Father’s Day when we take them both out for lunch at some nice restaurant.

As a Father I look back on my life and can see many things I wish I had done differently.  All the influences I have had on my life have led me to make choices that have had an effect on my children.  Just as my Father’s life was influenced by the environment he grew up in.  We can all look back with some regrets, at some of our decisions and with a great thing called hindsight we can say we would much rather have made a different decision.

Well hindsight is a great learning tool but what we need to apply to our future is foresight.  Making good decisions that influence our loved ones, parents and children,  in a way that helps them see a way of truth and life.  Our Savior Jesus Christ gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us make it through the decision making times of our lives.  It is up to us to allow the Holy Spirit into our lives and decision making so that we live with less regret and with more Joy.

Praying before decision making helps us to make right decisions and keeps us from praying for help to make up for bad decisions.  When we pray first, we set an example for our family that our faith in God is always first and can lead us into a life of promise and plenty.

Fathers and Mothers set examples.  Be the example God calls you to be by including Him in every decision you make. 

Have a blessed Father’s Day, Pastor Randy

Well I do know the name of these flowers, Lily of the Nile.   Not sure what the correct name is but I know where they live.  They live in our backyard.  They are some of the flowers Jane and I get to appreciate when they bloom out.

When I look at the different stages that these beautiful flowers go through to mature into that beautiful blue, I am amazed.  It amazes me also that God will be patient with us as we work through our lives and bloom out to be the beautiful Christians He calls us to be.  It would be great if we were born into being convicted and committed Christians living lives that witness to His love for us and the world we live in.  As the human beings we are, we most often have to grow through the stages of life and Christianity just as the lilies do.  We must have seeds planted, we must have spiritual nourishment pour upon us, we must be given time to grow in our Christian beliefs and be able to mature into a person who will blossom into a beautiful Christian that will spread the seed of the Gospel through the world.  These seeds will then repeat the process through the outpouring of spiritual nourishment that convicted and committed Christians have for all those who have heard the Word of God.  Nature’s process was created by God and God has given us a process for Christian Evangelism we must follow through, to be able to say we are believers in Jesus Christ and His Way.

God’s Peace and blessings, Pastor Randy