Newsletter: 2006-15 U.S National Day of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day Greetings from HomeWorship 101™

George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation:

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness…”

Wouldn’t it be refreshing to hear such bold and powerful words from today’s political leadership? There are many Scriptural commands to give thanks, and up until the time of President Abraham Lincoln our political headship had no problem in publicly doing so. When it comes to answering the GOD question, our early leadership boldly went where none have gone before. America’s founders were the only ones that built a nation that would glorify our CREATOR instead of some earthly king or leader. To commemorate those ideals, they proclaimed to the whole nation that on this day, stop your daily work, gather with friends and family, devote some time to home worship, table fellowship, and give thanks.

It is interesting to note that “Thanksgiving Day” was designed to be a national ‘home Worship’ holiday. George Washington first proclaimed the holiday as a day to gather with friends and family, share the autumn harvest bounties, and to give thanks. Traditionally, the spiritual highlight of the Thanksgiving event was staged around table-fellowship. In our multi-ethnic nation, food, music, and dance might vary, but typically, the main event would be when everyone joins around the dinner table, kindles the two main candles, and says a prayer of thanks…

All glory goes to our CREATOR.
(Luke 2:14; John 10:25, 14:12-15)

Sadly, today, after generations of being constantly bombarded with politically correct speech, history revisionists, and militant atheists, we have been slowly losing our way and forgetting we should be giving that’s to. The results of a survey conducted in October has found that “nearly half of Americans are not sure God exists.” I’ll quote:

“According to a poll that also found divisions among the public on whether God is male or female or whether God has a human form and has control over events.

The survey conducted by Harris Poll found that 42 percent of US adults are not "absolutely certain" there is a God compared to 34 percent who felt that way when asked the same question three years ago.

Among the various religious groups, 76 percent of Protestants, 64 percent of Catholics and 30 percent of Jews said they are "absolutely certain" there is a God while 93 percent of Christians who describe themselves as "Born Again" feel certain God exists.

When questioned on whether God is male or female, 36 percent of respondents said they think God is male, 37 percent said neither male nor female and 10 percent said "both male and female."

Only one percent think of God as a female, according to the poll.

Asked whether God has a human form, 41 percent said they think of God as "a spirit or power than can take on human form but is not inherently human."

As to whether God controls events on Earth, 29 percent believe that to be the case while 44 percent said God "observes but does not control what happens on Earth".

Culturally, we are devolving. Today, it’s not too difficult to find historical revisionists who would tear down America’s first President, George Washington, the founding fathers, and the values they wove into our founding documents. Sadly, many of these revisionists aren’t from some fringe radical group, they come from our so-called higher schools of learning. Yet, one could go through the halls of today’s educated elites and still be hard pressed to find a group of men who accomplished what our founders achieved. The two most recent examples of modern social thinking are reflected in the UN Charter of Human Rights, or the current draft of the EU Constitution. Neither of these is as citizen rights and freedoms friendly, as what America’s founders organized. In short, all they want to do is control you. Basically, it’s still the same ole’ story, what the government gives, the government can take away – boorrrring. Log on to: http://www.homeworship101.com/cultural_issues.htm

The simple truth is that upon coming home victorious from the War of Independence, George Washington could have been anointed king, but he was wise to the problems of Europe’s so-called ‘divine rulership of kings, popes, and dictators,’ and would have none of it. He wanted to complete the planned Constitution, and he agreed to serve a term, as it’s first president. With that decision, this country was born with the Bible in one hand, and the Declaration of Independence in the other. The founding fathers were Protestant-Christians, and they knew their history and Bible well. They were well aware of our CREATOR’S warning concerning the government of kings, 1Sam.ch.8. Their faithful hearts, and their reverence for the will of GOD, symbolized their commitment to the creation of the first nation that would glorify GOD instead of some earthly king. Log on to: http://www.homeworship101.com/bb-c6_hellenism_romanism.htm

If you ever run into a ‘get-GOD-out-of-government’ person, ask ‘em a simple question: “If they do not want GOD as the grantor of human rights, then what mere mortal do they suggest?” Let ‘em ramble a few minutes, and then just remind them of history. (And don’t let them sandbag you with the term democracy. Democracy has been around since the Greeks, and it’s basically mob-rule doomed to failure.)

The Bible – by itself - is not a religion (Jam.1:26). America’s Founders didn’t want a priest running the store, but they wanted the store run on the Biblical concepts of personal honor and self-reliance. Our Founders knew that developing a humble relationship with GOD gives one a place in the Universe. They knew the Biblical lessons of self-control, responsibility, and compassion, builds strong families, communities, and country. They believed that the Biblical values were goals to be achieved through applications of personal study and effort, practice, and group support. They didn’t believe in a state education to force-feed this, they believed that sharing spiritual knowledge is empowerment, and in the early years, the U.S. Congress printed and gave free Bibles to the people for personal and group study.

Our Thanksgiving Day is about the only holiday that hasn’t been ruined by commercialism. But the secularists are still trying to remove our CREATOR from the holiday by wishing people a “happy turkey day, ” instead of a Happy Thanksgiving. Don’t let the misguided secularists, and the misinformed theologians derail you. Follow our founder’s footsteps and boldly proclaim that we give thanks to our CREATOR, YAHWEH. Scriptures clearly state, whether you know the Messiah or not, Christian or Jew, all glory goes to our CREATOR (Luke 2:14; John 10:25, 14:12-15), and America’s path leads to YHWH and HIS Word.

The colonists endured much hardship when they settled this country, but their faith never wavered (click for their story). Today, we should not take for granted all the blessings we have. Say a heartfelt prayer of thanks for all the blessings of our CREATOR YHWH (Ps.100). And in these times of great geo-political stress, pray that our CREATOR’S Blessings continue.

“And whatever you do in word or deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” - Colossians 3:17

Enjoy the journey of learning.
Peace and blessings, Errol.
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Errol Mueller, chronicler extraordinaire
e-mail: errol@homeworship101.com
website: www.homeworship101.com
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Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible.
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#WSC 2006-15, posted 11/23/06.
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US National Day of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day Greetings from HomeWorship 101™