Hakuna Matata!

      In Matthew 6:25-33 Jesus says "Don't worry about how you will live." Hakuna Matata! You know what that means. The phrase was popularized by the Disney movie "The Lion King." Hakuna matata is a Swahili phrase that is commonly translated as "no worries" but literally translated as "There are no worries here". In the movie the hero adopts this carefree philosophy of life.
     Jesus says Hakuna Matata: "no worries." "Don't worry, be happy." "Here's a little song I wrote, You might want to sing it note for note, Don't worry, be happy …" Time out!  Does Jesus really say "Don't worry, be happy?" How unrealistic is that! I don't know about you but I have plenty to worry about. I have two sons growing up in a world that is increasingly hostile to Christian values. How am I going to send them to college on love offerings from churches? Then there are things like nuclear war, global warming, the ozone layer, global destroying meteors…
     Hakuna Matata?! Is it really wise to take on a "no worries" attitude in our world? Jesus is not saying that we should just take on a Pollyannic attitude that ignores the very real problems and dangers of our world. However he does tell us not to worry. At the same time he tells us not to worry for a reason. He gives some very good reasons. Let's take a look at them.
     So what reasons do Christians have for not worrying? One is that life is more than food and the body more than clothing. We know that there is something greater than this old material world. We know that there is spiritual reality that is deeper and more meaningful than these things. We know that things like love and faith and hope are more basic to human existence than mere food and clothing. So we don't ignore the dangers that we may lose the physical things we need. Rather we look beyond those physical needs to more basic things.
     We also know that there is a life beyond this one. I can't imagine how people who don't believe in an after life face death. To them the prospect of starvation must always loom over them. If the world were to come to end by nuclear war or natural disaster, to them that would be the end of their existence. But we know that there is more to life than this mortal existence. There is an eternity of life after this body turns to dust.  Don't worry. What is the worst that can happen? The world economy falls apart and we starve. But we know that the source of love and hope and faith, Jesus Christ, is not dependant upon things as fragile as the environment. God will always be there for us. And when we die, whether by violence, natural disaster or extreme old age, we have an eternity waiting for us. That sounds like a good reason not to worry!
Jesus gives us another good reason not to worry. In fact he seems to make the same point twice in this passage. First he says, "Look at the birds. They don't worry about their next paycheck and yet they have plenty to eat." God takes care of them. If God is going to go to the trouble of feeding the birds that are a dime a dozen, isn't He going to care for us? Then he says, "Look at the wild flowers. They don't read fashion magazines or run to the mall all the time; they don't get chemical peels and face lifts and tummy tucks, but they are more beautifully clothed than all the movie stars in Hollywood." God made them beautiful. If God goes to the trouble of making mere grass beautiful how much more will he cloth you in beauty?  The point is: God will provide. God made you. He will provide for the material things you need. You may not have all the luxury items that the world likes. But what God provides will be more beautiful and meaningful in its simplicity.  Now let's be realistic. Christians do occasionally starve to death or die of exposure. It has happened in the past and will happen in the future and is probably happening somewhere as we speak. It would appear that God didn't provide for them! But remember the first point: life is more than the body. God provides the needs of our bodies while we live, and then he provides eternal life and glory when we die. Either way, living or dying, God provides!  Worrying often accomplishes nothing. In fact it just seems to make matters worse. If you worry about being sick you will make yourself sick. If you worry that your life will not have meaning or good quality, you will rob yourself of quality and meaning in life. Worry is useless.
      Now I think this is a good time to make a distinction between worry and concern. There are definitely things to be concerned about. We should be concerned about what we eat and how we will eat and have clothing and shelter. But if we have concerns we should act on these concerns and do something about it. The problem is we often have concerns about things that we can't control, like rogue nations or the global environment or the economy. And so we worry about those things.  If you can do something about a concern, then do it!!!! Buy insurance, eat healthy, and get involved with the youth in your community.
     If you have a concern and you can't do anything about it, then give it to the Lord. He is bigger than any problem you are worried about. He can handle global warming, nuclear war and the hole in the ozone layer before breakfast. Do what you can about the small things with God's help, and let God worry about the big things.
      Hakuna Matata "no worries": as irresponsible and unrealistic as it sounds this can be a Christian attitude. If we put life in the proper perspective, we have every reason and right to not worry. After all, the material things we most often worry about are not ultimately what's important. Faith, hope, peace, love and all those other intangibles are what really make life worth living. And God has provided for us so far, why should we doubt that He will care for us tomorrow or the next day. And in the end what good does worrying do. If you can do something about it then do it, if not then worrying will only make matters worse.  So "Don't worry, be happy."
    Not because you ignore the realities of this troubled world. But because you have faith in the one who made the world. Not because there are not things to be concerned about in this life. But because the author of life is our God and He can handle the big stuff for you; and the little things too! Just say, "Hakuna Matata": "There are no worries here," because our God is bigger than all your problems!

      Well,  that’s all for now, stop by the website and check out the store on-line.  We are now using PayPal for your convince.  Also thanks for the monthly support.  You all are awesome.  New CD is out.  Make sure you get one soon.  Later!!!! 

Always in His service,
Brad

So What Is Life About?

Greetings All,

I am so excited about my new project coming out soon “Great Expectations”.  It is full of life and excitement.  That is the subject I want to write about,  LIFE.  With the recent losses of celebrities like Patrick Swayze, Michael Jackson, and many others it makes you think about life and just how precious it is.  Shakespeare once said that “All of life is a preparation for our last minutes of life!” No culture has done more than the American culture to deny the fact that one day all of us will pass on.  In Luke 12 15-21 Jesus once tells one of the crowds a story about a rich farmer.   He was trying to plan for the future as most of us do. Now you may be thinking this is not a bad idea.  We all want to prepare for the future of life because we do not know where we will be or how we will end up.  I love the old latin phrase “Carpe Diem” Which means seize the day.  Live for today and let God worry about tomorrow.  We are not to be a worrying people but somehow we like to give power to the Devil so we worry.  Just a side note not really part of the story.  One has time to prepare for the future. But that was not the problem for this rich farmer…his problems arose immediately when his priorities went askew. He was so proud of his accomplishments, taking all the credit for his success, that he missed the point of life itself.  He brags to himself...He had forgotten about God and about what life is all about...so Jesus continues with the story...Jesus said that God said to the rich farmer that you are going to die...The man was obviously intelligent, industrious and a model of success in the eyes of his community...but in God’s judgment, he is a fool. His affluence brought with it great responsibility, but his world view was so small that it did not get beyond thinking only of himself.   When you think about it, Jesus' word to his First Century disciples is a radical statement even in the twenty-first Century: "A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." This runs contrary to the way our society thinks and values and lives. 

·         Rich people are more successful than poor people.

·         Wealthy people are more important than poor people.

·         Well-to-do people are more sought after to serve on civic boards and commissions, since they bring status, money, and presumably have wisdom.

·         Well-off people are more believable in court than the poor.

Success in our culture is calibrated largely in terms of quantity -- quantity of degrees, wealth, salary, perks, possessions, and publications. We are ambitious; we are trained by our society to want more, to strive for more.   But Jesus says, "a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (12:15).   In other stories, Jesus tells us what happens...the rich, young ruler went away sorrowful for he had many possessions, he loved his possessions more than he could love God; he simply did not have the faith and courage to give it all away and follow Jesus. On the other hand, when Jesus confronted Zacchaeus with the truth about his life and his possessions, Zacchaeus volunteered to make amends to all those he had cheated...and to give half of his possessions to the poor. Something happens when we think about life.   The wonderful marvel of Jesus is that he never coerced anyone to follow him...he simply invited people to follow. The longer and harder we think about life, the more apparent it becomes that the big issue is both what we think about ourselves and what we think about God. But one of the most curious facts about our faith in Christ is that our greatest hurdle is, not so much what we believe or don’t believe about Christ, but rather what we believe about ourselves.  Too many people come to the critical turning points in life and then refuse to turn, to make a decision about what to do with the rest of life. But those who do turn make a marvelous discovery.  I did that more than 13 years ago and I answered yes to someone and and His name was Jesus.  From that hour on I was certain that my existence is meaningful, and, therefore, my life had a purpose, a goal. 

One of the last century’s favorite theological writers was Reuel Howe who died in 1986. He tells of an experience in an airport while waiting for an airplane. A young man with long hair and earrings and beads struck up a conversation with Reuel Howe. It began with a blunt question to Howe.The young man asked, “Who are you?” and Dr. Howe said: “I am a pilgrim.” “But I thought they were dead,” the young man said. And Howe responded, “I’m another kind of pilgrim. I’m trying to find my way from birth to life.” “But,” the young man interrupted, “don’t you mean from birth do death?” To which Howe said, “No, I mean just what I said...I’m trying to find my way from birth to life.”

The best way we do that is to know and believe that life is a gift from God, and to know and believe that we come from God and that one day we shall return to God. Most of us spend far too much of life measuring ourselves in comparison to others, rather than comparing ourselves to the potential of what we could become. Pascal, the seventeenth century French philosopher once said: Do not try to make yourself indispensable, but irreplaceable, so that when you come to die, people will know that you have truly lived.

We are living through some extremely challenging times...in this country and around the world. That is why I am so convinced that we need to think of life in the Christian way. When we do so, we are able to see life from the perspective of God...and what God meant for life to be like. Nothing sustains us more in troubling times than to renew our trust in God. Because our love and trust in God increases our love and trust in others.

It is life that so many people are afraid of...it is procrastination that prevents so many from doing what they can and should do. One poet put it this way: It’s the heart afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance.  It’s the dream afraid of waking, that never stands a chance!  It’s the one who won’t be taken, who cannot seem to give!  And the soul afraid of dying, that never learns to live.  (Amanda McBroom) which was also part of a song called “The Rose” sang by Bette Middler

What will God remember about you when you are no longer here? It helps us to put life into perspective...because it informs us that all of life is a preparation for life’s last minute. Be on guard against all kinds of greed...for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of one’s possessions...the abundance is not the issue...the issue is always what we do with what God grants us to have so long as we have life. 

Let me conclude with this story about Lizzie Johnson. She was born in Casey, Illinois in 1869. At the age of thirteen, she was stricken with a strange spinal cord disease that baffled the medical profession. For eight years she struggled, until 1890. At that point, the disease forced her family to put her in a bed in a darkened room because the light was an irritant to her nervous system. She lay in that bed for twenty years...never leaving the bed or the room. Of all people, who would ever have expected anything from Lizzie Johnson?  In her pain and despair she asked God to help her to be useful, and grasped the idea of writing letters to our missionaries. She got a list of them and began to write letters of encouragement. She wrote hundreds and hundreds of letters. Then, one day, she decided to make bookmarks from bolts of ribbons, and church members sold them for her so she could send money to the missionaries for their work. She promised God and her friends that her goal was to send $20,000 for this missionary work...Remember, it was 1890. She kept meticulous records of income and outgo.  On September 14, 1909, when her family brought her evening meal into her darkened room, they saw her body was lifeless, but she had a serene smile on her face. Next to her was the account book opened and under the column marked, “Amount Sent to Missionaries” the column’s total was exactly $20,000, and beside it she had written: Goal Accomplished...Mission Completed, Thanks be to God, Thanks be to God!  How will you live your life. That was Lizzie Johnson’s final will and testament.

You see...it was not so much what life had done to her, but what she had done with life that really mattered...and the same is true for each one of us.  It does not really matter what life does to us...what matters is what we do with life.  Don’t worry about what people will think about you after you are no longer here...just keep your focus on living for God and living life through Him to the fullest.  Live as though Jesus died yesterday, arose today and is coming back tomorrow.  I know it is deep but I think it is just what we need to think about.  Life! No amount of money, possessions or knowledge will get you life apart from the life found in Christ Jesus.  Always remember I love you all and look forward to seeing you all real soon at one of our services or concerts.  Keep checking the website for new and exciting things.  www.bradluzadder.com also let me know what you all think about the blogs.  I enjoy hearing from you all.  blministry@gmail.com      

Always in His Service,
Brad

WHAT THE RECESSION REALLY REVEALS

There is nothing that reveals who a person is more than when they face trying circumstances.  The real person surfaces when the pressure is over whelming and the fire is raging.  Let me tell you, we are living in trying times.  The Dow Jones is down.  The NASDAQ is down.  Housing values are down.  Venture capital is down.  Consumer confidence is down.  Employment is down.  The Auto industry is down.  Commercial real estate is down.  Foreign markets are down. During these times, if it can go down - it seems like it is continuing to head that direction.

However even when things are on the downward slide, we must ask ourselves, is there anything that is going up? Yes!!! There is…The opportunity to serve people in need is going up.  The opportunity to trust God when trusting isn’t easy is going up.  The opportunity to build a faith that will last when the storms of life hit  is going up.  The opportunity to help our churches become communities where people love and support each other is going up.  And allow me just to remind you that when Jesus comes, the church is going up.  Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow.    Jesus said, ”And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh”… There may be a lot of things in this world going down - but as a follower of Jesus, you and I are not headed downward, we are on the rise and on our way up.  A friend of mine said “don’t forget the hole from which you came”.   We all have been down, but sometimes God puts us on our backs to look up and see Him.  Don’t lose heart and give up.  But when you are up don’t get the big head because times must and always will change my friend.   

Okay time for a little Bible to back up what I am saying in James 1:1-4 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I know some may not like this – but here it goes.  Some times you are just gonna have to go through some stuff that doesn’t make any sense and isn’t fair.  Some times you’re just gonna have to hang on and ride out the storm.  Some times you’re just gonna have to endure the pain and the pressure that life throws your way.  Some times you’re just gonna have to stop complaining and quit suffering from stinkin thinkin and get a check up from the neck up and just get on with your life.  Some times you’re just gonna need to learn to tie a knot in the end of the rope and hang on and hope the knot holds. God’s promise is NOT that you won’t suffer - His promise IS that He’ll be there with you through it all. David said, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - you are with me… As the song says, His eyes are on the sparrow, so I know He’s watching me.  He said I will never leave you or never forsake you because I have carved you on the palm of my hand.  As my pastor friend, “Super Tom” says, "God is good all the time.  Don’t you worry, never fear because God is always here". 

Now I began this blog by sharing with you things are down. There are many that would say instead of tossing money to keep many of these areas afloat - the government needs to step back and allow them to crash. Hard times have shown us that many in the business world have built upon lies and deceit.  You all know that I’m not a gloom and doom preacher.  But every expert and indicator is telling us that the future looks bleak.  But I think the experts can go suck on an egg.  My God is bigger than any problem or situation that may come our way.  Everyone thought that Jesus was down and out for the count when he hung on the cross.  When they put Him in the tomb, they said that Satan had won the victory but on the third day Jesus was at the plate with bases loaded, two outs, full count( for those that do not know baseball that means three balls and two strikes)  Jesus steps back in the batter’s box got the sign from His father God the manager,  Devil in the windup from the mound with the pitch and Jesus hit a Grand slam homerun to bring everybody home Through Jesus I know that I have read the back of the book and WE WIN!!!!!!!  In our darkest, and, down and out hour, Jesus comes through all the time, always on time. 

 In times of recession and uncertainties remember this…God remains sovereign.  The blood of Jesus is still more powerful than the stain of sin.  The Holy Spirit still guides.  The Bible is still the Word of God.  The tomb is still empty.  Prayers still get answered.  Love still beats bigotry.  Hope still trumps despair.  The church is still marching forward. 

That’s all for now. Hey check out the new store on our website.  www.bradluzadder.com.  We have some new things and the new cd.  You can pay through PayPal and shipping is included in the price.  How cool is that.  Thanks to Jaime for getting that done.  Also thanks for all  the feedback from the blogs.  It is my hope that God will encourage and bless you all until I see you again.  

Love,   Rev. Brad

Happy Birthday and God Bless America 

Greeting friends,  

What an awesome time Jaime and I have had the past few weeks.  God is awesome.  We have been seeing many people come to know Christ at our concerts and services.  That is why we travel and do what we do.  It would not be possible if it was not for all of your financial support every month.  It is amazing how just $20.00 from our friends makes our travel possible.  I am very humbled when I go to the mailbox every month and open the cards and letters of people that say they believe in what we are doing and they join the Friends of the ministry team.  We set out to do what God would have us do and we are still doing what God said for us to do.  Thanks, for allowing Jaime and I to be your missionaries out beating the bushes for Jesus.  It is an honor to be on the frontline in the battle for Christ.  Never forget we are building the kingdom one heart at a time and nothing’s impossible for God.   

For those of you who have heard my America message,  I think we live in the greatest place in the entire world and I am proud to say I am an American.  Happy Birthday America!  We as a country will be 233 years old and that is the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence that was signed on July 4th, 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That’s a long time for a nation to remain free. But, when you take the long, historical view, we are just a child among the nations. Egypt, China, Japan, Rome, or Greece—they all had much longer histories, but not so free.

We have a rich, spiritual history that continues to influence us today.  My County, ‘Tis of Thee was written by a Baptist minister, Samuel Francis Smith.  A Baptist minister, Francis Bellamy, wrote the Pledge of Allegiance in 1892.  The words “In God We Trust” are traced to the efforts of Rev. W.R. Watkinson. Rev. John Witherspoon, a Presbyterian minister was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.  56 men from 15 states laid down their lives, their fortunes, their homes, their honor and the welfare of their own families for a cause – the grand cause of Freedom from tyranny. The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence contains some of the most stirring words ever penned by man:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,
That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights,
That among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness . . .”

At that moment, a nation was born that guaranteed, under its Constitution and Bill of Rights, that all men would be free from oppression of other men.

Our entire history has spanned only 4 generations. When Thomas Jefferson died, Abraham Lincoln was a young man of 17. When Lincoln was assassinated, Woodrow Wilson was a boy of 8. By the time the nation mourned the death of President Wilson, Ronald Reagan was a boy of 12.  But even though you have a short history, God has richly blessed you. You are the richest nation in the world. Your natural resources are still the greatest of all nations.

True, we have seen those freedoms erode, slowly but surely.

The right to bear arms has been severely limited and continues to be limited more.  The right to Life has been nearly destroyed with the passage of Roe vs. Wade and the right to choose death for another human being was passed.  Other rights have seemed to spiral out of control to the point of almost destroying our land and its freedoms.  The right to pursue happiness has led many to be believe that their own personal happiness is their right at any cost, including the right to infringe upon someone else’s happiness to get it.

The right to freedom of religion has led many to believe that it also means freedom from religion and has caused those like Madeline Murray O’Hare and others to have prayer removed from our schools, public displays of scriptures and anything to do with Jesus to be removed from public buildings. They may take it away but the blood bought, born again, Bible banging, Bible believing Army of God will continue to march on in victory because Our God is bigger than any problem that will get in our way.  I have my squirt gun ready and I have it filled up and am ready to take hell on.  Are you with me!!!!!!
Many have decided that it is their right to expect someone else to pay their bills, take care of them and feed them while they sit at home doing nothing. They seem to forget that the scriptures say - “If a man won’t work, he shouldn’t eat.” Some statistics say it takes 10 people working two jobs and putting in overtime so that just one of those who refuse to work can be supported by the government through tax dollars.

The idea that all men are created equal has been cast aside in order that some may receive preferential treatment based on color, race or ethnic background.  Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream of freedom for all men regardless of their race. He preached and taught equality and freedom from oppression.  I believe that he would roll over in his grave if he were to see the vast injustices done in the name of equality and what people think they have a right to.  I too have that same dream. A DREAM OF EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY. A DREAM OF EARN IT AND YOU CAN HAVE IT.   A DREAM OF BECOME THE BEST YOU CAN BE LIMITED ONLY BY YOURSELF.  I do not agree that we should spread around the wealth.  If you want it, Then work for it.  My God shall supply all of my needs in glory through Christ Jesus.

You see: The Dream of Freedom in 1776, and the Dream of Equality for all men come from the same source. That source is GOD!  Only God can give real freedom.  John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.  John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free
Jesus Christ is the source of real FREEDOM AND EQUALITY. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA! Keep the candles of your birthday cake of freedom burning bright.  May your 340,000 churches continue to offer hope and salvation to the lost and downtrodden. May they serve as moral and spiritual oases in a desert of unrighteousness.  May your eagle, the symbol of power, strength, and independence remember that even she is a creation of God.  May your citizens forsake their independent spirit enough to look to the Lord God Almighty for the inner freedom that only He can give.  May the motto found on all your coins, “IN GOD WE TRUST” be forever emblazoned on the hearts and minds of Your people.

Thanks All for now.  Happy Birthday and lots of fireworks for everyone.   

Always in His service,  

Rev. Brad
 

Happy Father's Day

Greetings Y'all,

 It is time for the man's holiday time.  You know it as Father's Day. I want to clear this up early. It was not started to sell greeting cards.  In fact in 1909 when it was first thought about by Mrs. Sonora Dodd there were no cards devoted to men.  Mrs. Dodd wanted a day to honor her dad for everything he did for her and her five brothers and sisters.  He lost his wife after giving birth to the sixth child so he had to raise them all on his own. That is how it all began. Then in 1922 Calvin Coolidge supported the idea and it was Lyndon Johnson in 1966 declared it an official holiday.  But it had been celebrated since 1910. Now I became a father three years ago when I married my wife Angie.  She had two boys, now I have two boys.  That is how it works. I have found that being a father is a tougher job than what I thought. It can be great but it also can be very frustrating.  Sometimes you tell them to do something and they do just the opposite.  You mean it for their good but they still disobey you. I have been thinking about the story Jesus told in Luke about the two sons.  See I have two sons and it works for my illustration okay.  What if the prodigal son story was updated to today? Be prepared it is a KBV - King Brad Version. Here we go. Once there was this man who had two sons. This man owned a business with a large corporate headquarters. His two sons were his partners. The younger son, Hunter, barged into his office one day and said, "Drop dead old man! I'm sick and tired of this job and I'm sick and tired of you. I'm tired of waiting for you to croak so I can get mine. I want half of your assets now." The Father could have fired the son then and there, and then called his lawyer, Josh Howell, to have him written out of the will. But instead he called his banker, Ed Merchant, and arranged for half of his assets to be given to Hunter.

Then Hunter caught the next plane to Las Vegas where he threw away his fortune on wine, loose women, and gambling. Soon the money ran out. The country was in the middle of a recession so the only job he could get was as a migrant worker. So he traveled from place to place picking crops for less than minimum wage. He was so broke that sometimes he would put the produce he was picking in his pockets and eat it later. Then one day when the boss man, Mr. Wilson, was hateful he realized, "My Father never treated anyone like this. Even the people in the mail room got a decent wage and benefits. I'll go home and beg him to take me on at the bottom of the ladder for I am no longer worthy to be his son."

So Hunter hitchhiked home. Well the father was looking out the window of his office when he saw a lone figure walking down the road. He quickly took the elevator down to the lobby and ran across the parking lot.  When he saw it was really Hunter he ran to meet him. When he got to his son he threw his arms around him and hugged him and kissed him. Hunter tried to tell his father that he was unworthy to be his son and that he just wanted a job no matter how menial. But by then the security guard, Nate had caught up with them and the Father told him. Get my son some decent clothes.  Get him anything he wants.  Call the caterers it is steak and lobster tonight and give everyone the afternoon off with pay! My son who was dead is alive again; he was lost but now is found.'

Now the older son, Riley, who was off on a business trip, was just coming back from the airport. As he pulled up to the security booth he could see through the large plate glass windows that a party was going on in the lobby. He thought, "who could they be having a party for. Maybe it's for me! After all I have been picking up a few extra accounts lately. Maybe his father wanted to congratulate him. Riley tried not to act like he already knew what was going on when he asked Nate, "Who's the party for? It was a shock when the guard said, "It's your brother. He came back earlier today and your father is throwing him a party!" This infuriated Riley. He had been working twice as hard to fill in for what his lazy brother had taken. This lazy bum had thrown away half his father's hard earned money. And now they were celebrating his return. What next! The older brother slammed his car into park and just sat there fuming. It wasn't long before the Father heard about it and went out to the parking lot to talk to his oldest son and to ask him to come to the party. But the oldest son said, 'Look, my whole life I have been working my fingers to the bone for you. I have worked with vendors and gone off on trips to visit clients and close accounts. I have always done what you wanted, and never once did you throw a party for me. I am the one who deserves a party not this freeloader. He took your money and wasted it on gambling and showgirls and you welcome him like he is the prince of England.But the father said, "Look, you have been with me and all that is mine is yours, and let me tell you I really do appreciate all that you have done for our family, but your brother was lost. We didn't know if he was dead or alive, but now he is found. Let's rejoice and be happy that he is alive and back home."

There are a lot of prodigal sons and daughters in each of our families.  This parable tells us that the Father is looking for them to come to their senses and start the journey back home. And just like the Father in the parable God meets them in the road to help them finish the journey. And all the angels in heaven rejoice when one lost soul is saved. Are you actually rejoicing or are you like the older brother.  Let's face it, people today are running from their own reality. They are afraid of the responsibilities and the troubles of everyday life. People today look around and they see no burning bushes or pillars of fire. Occasionally we see a flash of brilliance, a miracle, the hand of God. But after the smoke clears all we see are life’s troubles bearing down on us. So people try to escape into materialism, or consumerism, or drugs, or entertainment.  Just like Hunter tried to do in the story.

Many men, fathers, run from their responsibilities to their families. Our society is experiencing an epidemic of absent fathers. Some fathers are abandoning their families. Some are refusing to pay child support. The courts have to track them down to make them pay for their children's bread. These are the obvious cases. Not all men abandon their families, but many run away in other ways. They run to their jobs and hide there. They run to the lake or to the woods and hide there. They spend time with the T.V. instead of with their kids. Ouch! That one hurt me.  Let's start doing what we should be doing and start joining the party that the heavenly Father has prepared for the lost souls coming home.  Let's start actually being the children that God intended for us to be and make Him a proud Father.  I know it was long but it was worth it. I know it is not the typical type of Father's Day blog but have I ever been normal?  I think not!!  Happy Father's Day from Brad Luzadder Ministries.  Remember come see us when you get a chance www.bradluzadder.com

Always in His service,

Rev. Brad

                                                      Easter or Resurrection Day?

Greetings Friends,

     Praise the Lord!!! Things have been hopping here at Brad Luzadder Ministries.  God has been working and I can not begin to tell you everything that He has done for us.  We have had wonderful services in Illinois with Pastor Gene Macintosh and In Lafayette with Pastor Tim Faber.  Also I just heard that our new CD is going to be in our hands by the end of March.  Be looking for it on the website it is entitled "Nothings Impossible".  I believe with God that nothing is impossible.  He continues to take care of Jaime and I on the road and has kept us safe.  On the way to Lafayette we saw 6 wrecks and we still made it to the church safe.  Praise God.

Now for this month I want to focus on Easter.  The greatest time of year because it tells the story about Jesus over coming Death, Hell and the Grave.  How awesome is that.  Now the word Easter traces back to ancient England. Today Easter is a purely Christian term; however it has a very dark past indeed. Now I am sharing this with you not to ruin your Easter Celebration, but to share the truth with you.  You know me I am a truth fanatic and I just can't help myself.  Thanks Dad!!  For you that don't know my dad was a polygraph examiner (Lie Detector).  Sorry I digress, let us keep in mind that most Christian holidays came from ancient pagan holidays as well.  The word "Easter" does not appear even one time in the Original Transcripts. After all there are no Hebrew or Greek words for it. In the Original Manuscripts it uses the Hebrew word [ pesach ] which means Passover, the same applies to the New Testament in the Greek Transcripts [ paschal ] as well. In fact the first time that Easter ever appeared in our Bible was with the very first King James Bible in the 1600's, and it was used only one time in that Bible, that was in Acts 12:4 where it was substituted for the word Passover, by whom we do not know.  So where did the word "Easter" comes from anyway? Surprise, surprise, a Pagan Holiday which was in honor of their goddess of the dawn and of spring. So let us begin.....now an ancient Babylonian story begins supposedly that an angelic being descended from the heavens in a fertile egg and was rolled ashore by the little fishes, and hatched by doves into Ishtar, or Aahtoreth.  To bring blessings to all the inhabitants of the earth and became firmly entrenched in ancient Britain and was celebrated during the Vernal Equinox. The name Ashtoreth was transliterated into the Gaelic tongue as "Eastre." This was a form of Baal worship. One might note that whenever Baal worship was practiced, it included animal and human sacrifices involving children! During this festival pagan priests called Druids preformed religious rites involving dancing around pillars, temple prostitution, and sacrifices in honor of Eastre. Also eggs have always been associated with her, and wherever Baal worship has appeared. Thus Easter eggs are part of the ancient celebration of the goddess as well. The Easter Bunny is a more recent twist on an ancient theme, inspired by the same spirit, rabbits have long been associated with Ashtoreth, or Eastre.
Somehow, by the time Christianity assumed a major role in society (around the third and fourth century A.D.), the leaders, also known as the church fathers, began to hunt for some form of symbolism to associate themselves with the Resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, the fragmented and fictional account of 'Eostre' has become embroiled with the factual account of the Resurrection of our Lord. 

      How did "Eastre" or Easter replace Passover? Now since the pagans were already celebrating their holiday at about the same time as Passover, the Church once again decided to sanctify their holy day as a method of converting pagans to Christianity. So why not chance the name just a little, clean it up and get rid of their sacrifices, and make it a Christian Holy Day.  It was then that Eastre's day became known as Easter.
     Also, remember our old friend Constantine the Roman emperor? The man who decided to change the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day of the week, and then muscled the Church into accepting that. The man who dared to try and change God's Word, well he struck again. You see Constantine convened the council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. a council that he hand picked I might add. This council unanimously ruled that the Easter festival should be celebrated throughout the Christian World on the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox; and if the full moon should occur on a Sunday and thereby coincide with the Passover festival, Easter should be moved to the following Sunday. Therefore Easter and Passover would become separated, and have been ever since.  Of course, in the modern World today the term Easter has become a purely Christian word. No one offers their children before alters or poles, or worships the statue of a woman's body parts on Easter day. But Christ is equally pushed out, and I can't help but believe that our old enemy 'Satan' is behind the whole affair. He simply kept introducing distractions such as eggs, bunnies, Easter baskets, Easter Parades, and sun rise services until the resurrection of Jesus became an afterthought, and finally not thought of at all, except by a very few. Thus the true significance, of Christ's triumphal victory over death itself, is lost in the shuffle I am sorry to say. 

     You might be asking yourself, 'Does Brad believe in The RESURRECTION OF JESUS or not?', my answer is loud and clear. Yes, I believe with full assurance and perfect faith that The Messiah of Israel, The Lord Jesus, died on a cross for our sins according to The Scriptures, He was also buried according to The Scriptures, and on the third day He rose from the dead triumphant and glorious according to The Word of God. Today, He is at the right hand of God making intercession for all who believe and accept this wonderful message of salvation. I believe this with all my heart, and I preach and teach the same to all who will listen.  What I don't agree with is the inclusion of a pagan mythical goddess Eostre, and all of the trappings that go along with it; the mixing of pagan and heathen customs with The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, Easter, and the eggs, and the bunnies, and the sunrise services (worship of the sun and not the SON) are all opposite to the Scriptural and truthful meaning of The Resurrection of The LORD Jesus Christ.   I just think we need to know the truth.  Yes, I enjoy seeing my two boys finding Easter eggs and I enjoy all the fun that is associated with it but With out Jesus you don't have anything.  Please understand that I know this is long but I wanted you to know the truth.  I told you it was a very dark and twisted past.  Remember,  No More Games,  it is all about Jesus only.  Well that's enough for now.  Love you all.  Hope to see you all real soon at one of our services.  Keep up with our schedule on the website www.bradluzadder.com.  Also thanks for all of the feedback from these blogs.  It helps to keep me on my toes. 

 Always in His service, 

Rev. Brad 

Luck!  I don't think so! 

I have known sainted people that have over come many different obstacles in their lives.  I think of the great song writer Fanny Crosby.  At six weeks old, she caught a cold and developed inflammation of the eyes. The family physician was not available, and the man who came in his place recommended hot poultices as treatment. The botched procedure blinded her.  She has helped to enrich people's worship through her beautiful songs like  "Blessed Assurance" and "To God be the glory".  She later remarked: It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me. She also once said, "when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!"  What she was saying was that she came to understand that God is in control. And if God is in control then her accident wasn't just a fluke, but a purposeful arrangement by a loving God. She could trust a God like that. That accident cost her her sight and brought on some chronic suffering. But to Fanny Crosby, losing her sight was a huge gift from God - a platform for speaking to the world about her favorite subject through song, Christ.  Now I know as I was very surprised at her response.  I know I would not have been so spiritual about it.  I might even have a bad attitude about the situation.  I know that really surprises all of you. 

I know that you all might think That It is insensitive to say that God is in control but that is exactly what the Bible teaches.  When we remember 9/11 or some of the world tragedies we sometimes pull back from the idea that God could be in control of His world. We seem to think that God needs our protection from accusation. But the Bible says that all good things, as well as all tragic things, come from God Lamentations 3: 37-38.  They usually come from a secondary source, that is, they are dropped at your door by other people or through the convergence of events and complex connections. Without being a tempter or evil James 1:13, God determines all things, while still leaving us responsible for our own actions.  Complicated? Yes!   But it is the truth. 

This can be seen in the death of Christ. Was the death of Jesus a good thing? Yes!   Did God just "hope" that everything would work out to accomplish the greatest event of the universe? Did God feel lucky that it all worked out as He projected?

The early Christians did not think it was luck that brought about Jesus' redemptive death. Here's the way they put it in a prayer meeting: For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done Acts 4:27-28. 

We can think of all events, tragic or good, under two categories. They are either for the punishment or for the benefit of the person, but they're all in the end for the glory of God.

For a child of God, life works out. The Bible says, "All things work together for the good of those who love God, the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.

So, when a difficult thing comes into the life of a believer, then the end result is good. It is for a loving purpose. Even discipline from God toward true believers is for the good. And when sinful people are involved, we can say with Joseph, "You meant it for evil; but God meant it for good." Genesis 50:20  This can only be said because God is in control. And luck, well, it isn't even there.   Happy St. Patrick's Day and remember forget about "Luck".   Be blessed instead. 

Just an update, had a great time in Nashville recording our new CD.  Jaime and the guys said it is going to be a great CD. Be looking for it soon.  Hope to see you all real soon at one of our services or concerts. Check out our website for up to date schedule and exciting events. 

Until next time friends. 

Always in His service,

Rev. Brad

"WHY I BELIEVE IN THE
SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST" 

Greeting friends, 

First let me start out by saying things have been going great for us here at Brad Luzadder Ministries.  If you have not taken a look at our new website please check it out.  Also there are new pictures and our new store is up and running so if you need a special gift for someone please give the gift of the gospel through Brad Luzadder Ministries.  God has been blessing and I am so excited to be heading to Nashville on Feb. 7 to record some new music.  Jaime, Nate and I will leave Friday evening and I will be recording on Saturday starting at 9:00am.  Please be in prayer for the new project.  It is going to be entitled “Nothing’s Impossible”.  Have you ever wondered why you believe what you believe?  I have been spending time in the Word of God studying why I believe that Jesus is coming again.  Let me first start out by saying that it really does not matter if I believe it or not, it is still so.  The Word of God said it and that makes it so.  He is coming back just like he said.  My opinion and yours does not really matter.  But I like to know that I Know why I believe what I believe.  First understand that this is not a story but is true, real life and Jesus is literally coming back to claim His Church and I am going with Him when he comes back.  If it was today are you packed and ready to go?  

The "second coming" is coming and it will be...At the "last day".  This will be the total end of time as we know it.  In the Bible it says like a thief in the night the Son of man will come.  There will be a lot of very sad and confused people when that day comes.  Now I don’t know when it is going to happen and I really don’t want to know.  God said it is going to happen and that is good enough for me.  This is the only hell that we as Christians will ever have to face but for those that do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior this is the only heaven that they will ever face.  This will be the end of the world, but it is just the beginning for us as Christians.  This will be the beginning of a totally new existence that will last for all eternity.  Why do I believe in the second coming of Christ?  First, there is the promise of his coming by Jesus Himself at the last supper before his arrest in John 14:1-3 as Jesus is comforting His disciples with the promise of His return.  By His angels when Jesus ascended into heaven - Acts 1:9-11 the "two men...in white apparel" who said, "This same Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."  And by His apostles like Peter, in his second recorded sermon - Acts 3:19-21.  By Paul, in writing to...the Corinthians in 1^st  Corinthians 11:26; 15:22-23, to The Thessalonians in 1^st Thessalonians 1:9-10; 2:19; 3:13 to Hebrews in Hebrews 9:27-28, the young evangelist, Timothy – 2^nd  Timothy 4:1.  I want you all to know that as I believe in Jesus and His apostles, I believe in their promises.  If we don’t believe in what Jesus said and there is no second coming then we Christians are to be pitied...for if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen – 1^st  Corinthians 15:16.    And if Christ is not risen, our faith is futile and we are still in our sins – 1^st Corinthians 15:17.  Those who have died in Christ have perished – 1^st Corinthians 15:18.  If in this life only we have hope, we are of all men the most pitiable – 1^st Corinthians 15:19. But we can have confidence in the second coming of Christ...If we believe there is a God, If we believe the Bible is the Word of God, If we believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that Jesus has not yet come is only an indication of God's long-suffering (2^nd  Peter 3:8-9).  But rest assured, as promised, that "day" will come!  In the meantime, what should our attitude be toward the coming of our Lord?   One of prayerful preparation - Luke 21:34-36; 2^nd Peter 3:14, One of joyful expectation - Philippians 3:20-21, One of patient endurance - Hebrews 10:35-39.  Is that your attitude...?  Be sure your attitude is right today my friend.  I hope you will take some time this week and spend it with the Savior.  I always want to be a encourager to all of you as we all go along this journey.  If you get a chance again check out the website and see where we are going to be and where we are going to be ministering.  Hope to see you soon.  God Bless! 

Always in His Service,  

Rev. Brad

Happy New Year

The New Year Holiday.  What does it really mean for all of us?  As a Christian I know what it means to me but for the world what does it mean?  Do you go out and party hoping things will be better next year?  Sometimes I just do not think that they get how much fun you can have in Christ.  I am having the time of my life and I feel more alive in Christ than when I was without Christ.   I do not claim to know too much but what I do know is that Jesus saved my soul and no one can tell me any different.  He made me what I am today and I am glad that he touched my life and gave me a purpose.  I hope that you have a purpose in life today my friend.  But before I get to that let me tell you a little about the New Year and how it all came to be at least for us here in Christianity. 

I do not need to tell you all that I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer but I love to read and learn useless facts.  I stumbled across this bit of information and I have really enjoyed this study and I hope you will too.  Now the Christian or Gregorian calendar year starts, as we all know on January 1.  Not all but most of the other countries around the world follow this calendar.  This is not new.  It was a re-invention of the calendar that was established by Julius Caesar, who was a Roman Emperor in BC 46.  Now the Julian calendar was done away with in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII because he thought is was way too long and very confusing.   He was the Pope so he did what he wanted to do at the time.  Right or wrong does not make any difference.  It was done away with and everyone just seemed to accept it.  It was after this that the Gregorian calendar was established because it aligned the seasons with the weather and it has seemed to balance the whole thing.  A balanced calendar means that from January 1 to December 31 all of the seasons and the stages of the planets along with the moon and the sun cooperate with the right time of year.  So we are given 365 days – 12 months make up all of those days – 4 weeks in a month – 52 weeks in a year and 7 days a week.  Thanks to the New Year starting on January 1.  All of this information took a lot to understand but I am glad that they worked it out because I would have messed it up like I do a lot of things.  If you are confused it is okay, this gets better.  Keep reading!!!!! 

Now how many times have you tried to start with a New Year’s resolution coming into the New Year and fail?  Did you really take it before Christ or did you try and do it all on your own?  For me I have done some really stupid things.  I know that all of you will have a hard time believing that but it is true.  I have tried many times to set goals for my life and forgot to consult the one that gave me life.  No, I am not talking about my mother but I must say that I do seek council from her and my wife as well.  I mean God, the author and finisher of my life.   If you do not get anything else from this please get this; Always Always Always go to God first before you start to plan your life.  He made you and he knows what is best for your life, if we will only listen.  I have also found that I can not live in the past with all of the dumb things that I have done.  I believe that the New Year is a chance or a moment in time for us to forget our past failures and to move to the Now and look for the future.   

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting these things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  What does this mean?  We as Christians can look over our past year to see if and when we are able to make changes in our lives that we want to do.  I believe that we can enter the New Year with an awesome feeling of God’s presence in our lives, and through that we have the faith and the courage to face all the challenges that will come our way.  Remember that life is not easy but with God’s help we will make it through.  Also this can be a new beginning for all no matter what your past.  You can get past your past and get away from painful memories. Philippians 4-13 I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.  The Devil might bring it up again but once God forgives it he never remembers it again.  Praise God for that promise.  God always keeps His promises.   

In the Lord everyday should be a day for new beginnings, but we can look to this New Year as a time to reflect and reevaluate where we are and where we are going in God.  If we ever quit growing in God then we are dead.   

The New Year offers us a chance to wipe our slates clean and start over again. I am so glad that I serve a God of 2^nd chances.  It is time to set new goals (with God’s help) and make plans as to how you will meet those goals.  My final question to you today is, “What kind of goals and plans will you make in this New Year as you seek to serve Christ in our world today?  I know we have all seen the bracelets WWJD – What Would Jesus Do.  The next bracelet should read WWYDFJ – What Will You Do For Jesus.   

Until next time friends, We here at Brad Luzadder Ministries hope that you have a safe and wonderful New Year.  God has really been blessing us in 2008 and we look forward to seeing more of you in 2009.  If you would like to have Brad Luzadder Ministries come to your church or if you know of a church that would like to have us, please give us a call and check for available dates.  Be sure and checkout our website often to keep up with the exciting happenings.

Thanks again for your prayers and support of this ministry. 

Always in His service,  

Rev. Brad   

www.bradluzadder.com

blministry@gmail.com

765-206-8168(O) 765-661-8784(C)

Merry Christmas

What is the true meaning of Christmas?  Have you ever really wondered?  Well here is what I think Christmas really is all about.  Christmas is the church's celebration of the Incarnation, the supreme mystery that the holy and awesome God took on human flesh and was born in this world of the Virgin Mary. God became one of us in order to die for us and save us from sin, death, the grave and the power of the devil. A mystery this profound can't be contemplated in just one day. This is why the church pauses during Advent to prepare for the Lord's coming.

Besides Christmas, there are other things in December that help believers in Christ recall the true meaning of Christ's birth. The three days immediately following Christmas Day is sometimes called Witness Days.   Now I know what you are thinking but bear with me.  I have done my homework and I think that the early church believed that Christmas was not just a one day event.  I will explain what I mean and I hope you will understand the message that God has given for you.  This does not take away from Christ but I think that it continues to point all of us towards the Savior.   December 26 is said to remember Steven, Deacon and Martyr, the first Christian to die for his faith (Acts 7:54-60). December 27 is said from the early church to stand for John, The Apostle and Evangelist. John was the disciple whom the Holy Spirit inspired to write the gospel, the beautiful words that summarize the miracle of the Incarnation: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… (see John 1:1-18 for the complete text). December 28 is said to remember the baby boys of Bethlehem who were murdered by King Herod in his insane attempt to exterminate the Christ-child (Matthew 2:16-18).  I am a Pro-Life person and this really speaks to me.  I believe that we as Christians need to take a stand against this terrible problem they call abortion.  I call it Murder and so does God.  I know that Christmas is suppose to be joyful and all ways happy but there were a lot of babies killed looking for the Christ Child sorry but I really feel strongly about this.  I will get off my soapbox and continue on with the rest of the story.  I feel like Paul Harvey.    On the surface, these people have little in common with each other or with Christmas Day.  However, each of these days helps us better understand the true meaning of Christmas.  Stephen willingly gave up his life to preach the gospel of Christ. The baby boys of Bethlehem were murdered without their choice almost like what happens everyday here in America. The apostle John endured persecution and exile for the sake of the Gospel. These three days remind us that it is precisely because of the ugliness and magnitude of our sins that Christ had to be born in to the world so that he could live, suffer, and die for all people. The Witness Days also remind us that the lives of Christians will sometimes be touched by hardship and misery, and that Satan and the world are enemies to the saving message of the gospel. But in spite of our sins, the devil's garbage, and the world's sorrow, Christians are able to rejoice in God's Son, Jesus Christ, born two thousand years ago in Bethlehem to die for us.

Another special commemoration takes place on January 1, the Eighth Day of Christmas. Eight days after the Lord's birth, Mary and Joseph had Him circumcised as required by Jewish law. At His circumcision, He was also formally given the name JESUS (Luke 2:21). The significance of this day is twofold. First, circumcision was the visible sign of God's promise to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:1-13). In the cutting of flesh and the spilling of blood, we see a prophesy of Christ's death on the cross for the sins of the world and the fulfillment of God's ancient promise to bless the children of Abraham. Second, we receive yet another glimpse of the true meaning of Christmas in the name Jesus, which means "He saves." As recorded in Matthew 1:20-21, an angel spoke these words to Joseph concerning the child that Mary was carrying in her womb: Joseph… do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

Christmas trees, Santa Claus, decorations, exchanging gifts, and the many other seasonal traditions that most of us observe are wonderful ways for family and friends to mark this time of year. What we must all take care to remember is that these customs, enjoyable as they are, ultimately have nothing to do with the true meaning of Christmas. The true meaning of Christmas -- the "reason for the season" -- is found only in the message of the gospel. Here it is, so beautifully found in John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  It is the prayer of my family and I that you and your family have a great Christmas but never forget the true meaning of Christmas.  I know that I may have went deep on this subject but I believe that we as Christians need to understand and need to be able to share this with our families and friends.  We have the greatest gife for our world today and his name is Jesus.  This year make this the best Christmas ever.  Don’t be PC and buy into this worlds Happy Holidays.  Always say Merry Christmas because without Christ there is no reason to celebrate.  Without Jesus there would be no hope for our world today.  Make sure you tell someone about Jesus this Christmas season.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Brad Luzadder Ministries. 

Always in Christ’s service,

Rev. Brad 

Happy Thanksgiving

Greeting Friends, It is that time of year again that we have a chance to thanks to God from whom all blessings flow.   I was listening to some friends talk about turkey day and I spoke up that they could not eat my soundman, Jaime. He is a turkey but he is not good to eat.  He is getting old and I hear that the older the bird the tuffer the meat.  Of course you know I am just kidding.  Thanksgiving is also the chance I get to sing happy birthday to my dad Tom and my son Hunter.  Dad will be 70 and hunter will be 6.  What an awesome blessing they both are to our ministry.  Now enough about my crew and I.   Let’s talk a little about what Thanksgiving really means.  Many people think of Thanksgiving as a chance to get out of school.  Have long extended vacations and eat lots of food.  Or some people think it is the time to run to all the stores and spend money that you don’t have for people you don’t like and you end up getting things that you don’t need. At least that is what I call it but most people refer to it as the Christmas season. What is the real meaning behind Thanksgiving? Catherine Millard writes: We can trace this historic American Christian tradition to the year 1623. After the harvest crops were gathered in November 1623, Governor William Bradford of the 1620 Pilgrim Colony, "Plymouth Plantation" in Plymouth, Massachusetts proclaimed:

"All ye Pilgrims with your wives and little ones, do gather at the Meeting House, on the hill… there to listen to the pastor, and render Thanksgiving to the Almighty God for all His blessings."

This was the start of the Thanksgiving tradition. Our United States Congress has proclaimed many days of Thanksgiving to God many times throughout the years. On November 1, 1777, by order of Congress, the first National Thanksgiving Proclamation was proclaimed, and signed by Henry Laurens, President of Continental Congress. The third Thursday of December, 1777 was thus officially set aside:

"…for solemn thanksgiving and praise. That with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts, and consecrate themselves to the service of their Divine Benefactor;… and their humble and earnest supplication that it may please God, through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance… That it may please Him… to take schools and seminaries of education, so necessary for cultivating the principles of true liberty, virtue and piety under His nurturing hand, and to prosper the means of religion for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth of 'righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost'…"

 Then again, on January 1, 1795, our first United States President, George Washington, wrote his famed National Thanksgiving Proclamation, in which he says that it is…

"…our duty as a people, with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude, to acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God, and to implore Him to continue is… our duty as a people, with devout reverence and affectionate gratitude, to acknowledge our many and great obligations to Almighty God, and to implore Him to continue and confirm the blessings we experienced…"

Thursday, the 19th day of February, 1795 was thus set aside by George Washington as a National Day of Thanksgiving.

Many years later, on October 3, 1863, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed, by Act of Congress, an annual National Day of Thanksgiving "on the last Thursday of November, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens." In this Thanksgiving proclamation, our 16th President says that it is…

"…announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord… But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, by the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own… It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people…"

So it is that on Thanksgiving Day each year, Americans give thanks to Almighty God for all His blessings and mercies toward us throughout the year.  You see that it is more than just a story about the pilgrims coming over from Europe to Plymouth Rock on the Mayflower.  It is more than us getting together and sharing fun, food, and fellowship one to another.  It is not about us at all.  It is all about the mighty and holy God that we serve and that we are able to thank not just one time a year but it should be Thanksgiving every day of the year.  Never forget to say thanks to God from whom all blessings flow.

 Until next time friends God bless and Happy Thanksgiving. 

Rev. Brad