Weekly Article - 7/6/22

Golden Valley Christian Church

 

            While it is now just called “the 4th of July,” for the majority of people, July 4th is actually the day that was chosen as Independence Day, a very historic day in our nation.  This was the day the United States declared its freedom from England.  In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson acknowledges our God and Creator, and as long as we, the citizens of this great country, hold to our beliefs in God and obey the rights God gave us, this nation shall not fall. 

More than a decade later, the Constitution of the United States was written, as one of the shortest written constitutions in the world.  It is deemed so valuable that, immediately after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, the original document was taken to Fort Knox in Kentucky, for safekeeping.  It took our founding fathers over one hundred days to draft and write this vital document, with many dissenting and hostile views, before finally being approved.  By circumstances beyond their control, two stalwarts who fought for the independence from England, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, did not sign this document. 

            During last Sunday’s morning worship, we were given the pleasure of singing a song with our youth, including the hand motions that went with the song.  Pride can be a sin, but in this case, we believe God and every person in our congregation is proud of these young people and their leaders.  It is such a delight to see them using their talents to praise God (Luke 18:16).

            Due to illness, Bro James was unable to bring the message; however, Ken Jones filled in and did an excellent job.  With Independence Day at hand, Ken examined the preamble of the Declaration of Independence which says, “all . . . are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” to gain understanding of the writers’ belief in God as creator and author of our inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  We can understand how these rights are achieved, by following God’s revelation of basic expectations and behavior, the Ten Commandments, as recorded in Deuteronomy 5:5-22.    God gave the ten commandments to the recently freed (Liberty) Hebrew people.  These rules were given for the best interest of the people.  Following them would give people ways to enhance their way of life, making it easier and better.  We can also understand how divisions in our nation today reflect our breaking or ignoring these timeless commandments.  Jesus summed up these responsibilities in two sentences (commandments) in Mathew 22:37-40.  The constitution of the United States was also set up to enhance and better people’s lives.

            Golden Valley Christian Church meets at 611 South Third Street in Clinton.  Sunday School classes begin at 9:30 AM, and the morning worship service is at 10:30.  Our Wednesday evening Bible study is suspended for the summer.  Our minister is James McFarland (office phone # 660-890-0252), and our website is www.goldenvalleycc.org, where you will also find a link to access our Facebook page.  We are happy to invite you to attend our services, where you will always receive a warm welcome.