It's a rambling, historical bulletin today, read it at your own risk!

I was given a bulletin by Charlotte months ago, which I am very grateful for, but she wrote it by hand on paper and I have not yet brought myself to type the whole thing in. Today, in searching for the text of the story she quotes, I came across it in several places where those who would bash God are using it to mock Christians. In the same place, I found a non-Christian (I assume?) asking his fellow atheists if they were familiar with the famous quote "give me liberty, or give me death!" and how it relates to religion.

Being a wondering person that I am, and easily sidetracked, I thought I would just do a search online and see if I couldn't find the text of what Patrick Henry said at that fateful church appearance, where he was accused of treason. Here is the text in question:

"An appeal to arms and the God of hosts is all that is left us. But we shall not fight our battle alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone. ... Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it Almighty God. 1 know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death. "

Interesting, isn't it? Hard to imagine a nation forged by Christian men such as this was ever intended to have separation of church and state the rabid way it's discussed in these times. Funny how whenever I read this quote I never seemed to have heard the full context before. Hmmmm...

Snooping around a bit more, I found references to Alexander Campbell that looked interesting on this same anti-religious website. Around 1819 in Pittsburgh, P A Alexander meets a fellow named Walter Scott. They have a series of debates against Presbyterian preachers and "orations" open to the public, and begin preaching. In fact, in 1828, Walter Scott is invited by the Baptist church to come and hold a meeting in a small town very near and dear to my heart. He preaches and one of his listeners, William Amend, obeys the gospel and becomes the first person in modern times to be "baptized for remission of sins" according to the teachings of Acts 2:38. The church, (in Lisbon, Ohio) becomes the mother church for the Reformation movement. Huh? 1 know that church!!! The Baptist sign out front comes down and the members begin calling themselves simply "Christians", distancing themselves from any denomination. Alexander comes over and preaches now and then, and the church grows all over the area, recharged in the scriptures.

Now that I have the personal note aside, here is the really cool thing I found. Alexander Campbell, preaching all over the country that salvation is not by tradition but by the word of God, was asked by both houses of Congress - yes the federal government - to come and address them. On June 2Ad 1850 he addressed the joint assembly in the House of Representatives on the issue they invited him to discuss - the need for an improved English version of the bible! Iunderstand that Alexander Campbell was not a perfect Christian, but hey, our government was just a bit more Godly then. Who would believe that happening today?

They apparently liked what they heard. In 1782, the United States Congress voted this resolution: "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools." .

The President of the United States in 1923, a former governor (a Republican governor, some things never change!) from a very liberal state (Massachusetts) once wrote "The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country." For those wondering, that would be Calvin Coolidge.

What a very different world we live in!

Randy