February 18, 2007
Feb. 19 / President’s Day
There is a distortion of history frequently heard that our nation does not have biblical or Christian roots and that our Founding Fathers were mostly deists and not Christians. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Careful research has found just the opposite -- that most early American leaders were dedicated, Bible-believing Christians who took their faith seriously.
Few people know that 52 of the 55 framers of the Constitution were avowed biblical followers of Jesus. Almost to a man, our Founding Fathers sought to serve and glorify Jesus Christ with their lives. According to a University of Houston study, 34 percent of all the quotes of the Founding Fathers came from the Bible. Another 60 percent of their quotes from men who used the Bible to form their conclusions. A total of 94 percent of all their quotes either directly or indirectly cited the Bible.
A good example is the father of our country and first President, George Washington, who said, "It is impossible to rightly govern ... without God and the Bible."
James Madison, the chief architect of the Constitution, said, "We have staked the whole future of American civilization... upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."
The Founding Fathers got most of their ideas about government from people such as William Blackstone, the famous English legal genius, who got most of their ideas from the Bible. Even the concepts of private property and free enterprise are biblically based.
Historian C. Gregg Singer points out, "Christian theism had so permeated the colonial mind that it continued to guide even those who had come to regard the gospel with indifference or even hostility."
For example, it is true that a few of the founders were not Bible-believing Christians. However, the influence of the Bible was so great that even those who were not believers had a biblical world view. Benjamin Franklin is not known to be a biblical believer, but he believed in God's sovereignty and intervention in human affairs, and it was God who gave us our nation, and he quoted Scripture. Thomas Jefferson believed the same.
Yours for fulfilling the Great Commission each year until our Lord returns,
- Dr. Bill Bright, Founder and Chairman Campus Crusade for
Christ International / 3-13-02
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Dear Bedford Friends, To know you are with us in our time of sorrow gives us comfort. May His peace be with you and may His love never end. – The Family of Earlene Polzer
BETH MARSH will be entering the hospital tomorrow for hip surgery this next week. If all goes as smoothly as the one recently on her other hip, she should do well. Pray to that end for her.
Next Sunday, Andy Movie
Andy & Barney Will Be Our S.S. Lesson
Rachel Weaver Will Lead The Discussion Following
ETHEL SHERMAN WILL BE 101 in 5 days (23rd). While she’s unable to read cards & notes because of vision loss, she has a friend in her apartment complex who reads her mail for her. You can send a card to: [contact Pastor Cain for address].
TEACHING TITHING (giving 10% of our income) can never be done too early. Last Sunday, Jacob & Adam Cain put in the S.S. offering their money (60 cents & 30 cents) from the money they make for doing house chores. God said to Moses: “These words which I command you this day …teach them diligently to your children.” Malachi 3:8 equates neglect of the tithe with robbing God. Jesus, however, warned that strict tithing must accompany concern for the more important demands of the law, namely, for just and merciful living (Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42).
ABOUT 100 POUNDS of food was taken to Salvation Army this past week. Thanks for your faithful giving of food year ‘round!
JOHN RAILTON: John's surgery went well this afternoon and I got him home and settled on the couch around 6:30pm. We appreciated Susan Collier, Carson Langel and Bob Huddlestun coming over to the surgery center. It was a new experience for John to be the patient and having others visit and pray for him before surgery. The surgeon found another tear in the cartilage on the other side of the knee as well, so it's no wonder he was experiencing pain and has been limping since Oct. So far this evening he has been comfortable with ice on his knee along with the Vicodin. Thank you all for your prayers -Alice Railton, 2-13-07
JUNE ROUTSON: Someone decided my mother was not making fast enough progress to stay at the hospital … They just said the rest of her progress would be long term and gave options for nursing home placements. Feb. 13th she was transported by ambulance to (a nursing home) … keep sending prayers for her. I told her my goals for her is that she needs to come home with us as soon as possible … She doesn't have a bedside phone but you can call and reach her at (618) 268-4631. Her address is now: [Contact Pastor Cain for address]. I know she would like to get mail. Thank you for the cards you have sent. And you may always send mail to us and we will deliver. Etta Marie and Conrad Wetzel / Feb. 13, 2007
EMORY MACY: We took Emory to the hospital late yesterday. He'd been suffering all day with nausea and deep weariness. They really are concerned for an infection that is causing deep congestion, and there may be some evidence he has had a heart event. They are not, as yet, calling it a heart attack. We'd certainly appreciate prayers for him, because at 95 anything like this can be very serious. Thanks, Kent Ross, Feb.14th
FRANCIS BURNETT was taken 2-12 to a Rockford IL Memorial Hospital with pneumonia & low blood pressure. Keep in prayer.
CLYDE WHALEY was here about an hour 2-15 removing snow from the parking lot from the “Big Storm” as it is now known in Cleveland. He shoveled our walks & salted them plus knocking down large icicles. Our great appreciation!!
“Maggie Seeks the Kingdom of God”
A Groundbreaking Book for the Church of God Teaching Children about the Kingdom of God.
Also, a two page letter in the Back of the Book Gives More Detail for Adults
Books Can Now Be Purchased With a
Credit Card, $15.99 + S/H
Order At: http://www.angelahaysmoore.com/
PRAY FOR: Emory Macy, Beth Marsh (2-19 hip surgery), June Routson (stroke), Dave Cheatwood (clots), Rebekah Martin (broken wrist), Bob Knebl (heart, by R Cain), Amy Gunselman (cancer, 30, 2 children / by R Phillis), Cathy Panyard (untimely death of husband / by K Cain), Evelyn Pennington, Katie Cramer (chemo), Pastor Ray Hall (chemo), Ralph & Iona Childs, Ruby Korode, Penny Frederick, Lucinda (by Szekely), Gene & Gloria Faehnrich, Edith Speer, Grady Hudspeth*, Jacob Hinton*, Kathy & Destiny Reed*, (*by Skip), W.C. & Craig Blankenship, College students: Jackie Schuld, Dan Cain, Rachel Cunningham, Shut-ins: David Onderdonk Sr., Helen Matthews, Military: Rodger Schuld, Those serving in other countries: Lupe Badillo-Mexico, Tracy Zhykhovich-Russia, Beder Ucañay-Peru, Pastors in Malawi & Mozambique, Lesly Bertrand and the Pastors in Haiti. Colleges / Churches: RRCC, ABC, Golden Rule, Grace Brethren and for the peace of Jerusalem, Ps. 122:6; Isa. 62:6,7
February 2007
23 Ethel Sherman’s 101st Birthday
25 Andy Griffith movie / Rachel Weaver leading discussion
Future Dates: Mar 18, Ch Outing / Mar 23, 24 NE Conf, Lawrenceville / Apr 8, Easter / Jun 3, Grad Social & Bridal Shower for Dan & Rachel / Jun 10-15 State Camp / June 23, Dan’s
wedding / July 15-20 National Camp / July 22, D. Onderdonk’s Sr. 100th B-day /
Aug 26, Annual SS Picnic
SUNDAY SCHOOL: 9:45 A.M.
WORSHIP: 10:45 A.M.
Musicians: (Frank Roper & Mark Cain)
Welcome / Announcements
Worship Hymns / Mark Cain
541 My Country ‘Tis of Thee
1 How Great Thou Art
Prayer / Offering
Message: Where Do God and Country Meet?
Key Texts: Rom 13:1-8; Acts 5:27-29; Isa 40:14-18;
2 Chron 7:14; Ps 11:2; 1 Tim 2:1-4; Phil 3:17-21; Heb 11:13-16
