Articles for tag: Fourth of July

July 4, 2019

Christian Standard

A July 4th Message from 1960

Here is an Independence Day editorial by Edwin Hayden from 1960 . . . 94 years after the founding of our magazine and 184 years after the founding of our nation. _ _ _ Which Kind of Freedom? An EditorialJuly 2, 1960; p. 2 About to talk to a group of school children on the subject of freedom, the preacher asked his young hearers to define the word free. First offered was this: “Like getting into the show without paying.” Free—“without cost”—has been lifted from an obscure and incidental place among the definitions of freedom so that it becomes a

October 6, 2016

Christian Standard

Can I Be a Christian and a Patriot?

Four biblical principles about our earthly citizenship By Matt Proctor Full confession: I love America. I was born on an overseas U.S. Army base where my father served, and I respect the office of president, sing the national anthem, salute the flag, and own the movie Captain America. But my study of God”s Word has led me to decide how I should view my love of country in terms of my higher calling. Two summers ago, I took my 10- and 12-year-old sons on a weeklong U.S. history tour. We imagined being an immigrant at Ellis Island, marveled at the

July 5, 2016

Mark A. Taylor

Prayer for America

By Mark A. Taylor Last Sunday, the day before the Fourth of July, I had the chance to lead worship in my home congregation. While I don”t believe Sunday-morning worship is the place for patriotic rallies (I”ve written about this before), I do believe we should be praying for our country as Christians gathered. So I wrote the following prayer as a responsive reading for the service I led. Maybe it will encourage some readers today. And some might even personalize it to use in their own congregations. Leader: Dear God, as we think about the freedoms, privilege, and possibilities

June 28, 2016

Mark A. Taylor

Where Patriotism Belongs

By Mark A. Taylor The below piece, first posted here five years ago, still resonates with me as we approach the Sunday before the Fourth of July. As one commenter said when it first appeared, “Our patriotism is for our freedom and way of life in a free country; our worship is reserved only for our Creator God.” More than a decade ago, my congregation hosted a patriotic pageant each year called “Sea to Shining Sea.” We had a huge adult choir, a children”s choir, a live orchestra, actors, and dancers. We welcomed color guards from all the armed services.

July 7, 2011

Christian Standard

Church, City Partner for Fireworks

Central Christian Church of the East Valley”s Gilbert, AZ, campus held its first “Fire in the Sky” Fourth of July fireworks celebration last summer. This year, the city of Gilbert is helping. “The mayor reached out to the church and asked if they would allow the greater community to participate in the church event,” reports the Arizona Republic. “”˜We feel extremely honored,” church spokesman Matt Price said. “˜Our goal as an organization is to partner with the community. . . . It’s a huge win to both of our organizations.”” Gilbert approved $7,500 in expenses for the celebration including traffic

June 29, 2011

Christian Standard

Behind Closed Doors

By Mark A. Taylor   He is an Arab Christian with a ministry in the Middle East. And to start he says he could not speak freely with me in his home country. There our conversation would not continue, he said, until he had removed the battery from his cell phone. “Why?” I ask. “Surveillance.” “They would bug your cell phone to listen to your conversations?” I said to him in disbelief. “It happens,” he said calmly. “If I were to openly speak with a Muslim about becoming a Christian, life would become very difficult for me and for him,”

September 23, 2007

Christian Standard

NACC: Timely, Memorable, and Helpful

By Allan Dunbar, NACC Executive Director Our flight into Kansas City was late again. But the North American Christian Convention events all during that first week in July were both on time and timely. The “It”s Time” theme permeated every moment of this annual gathering. The NACC staff works all year to meet deadlines . . . and they met all of them. About 800 volunteers from area churches showed up on time for their assignments . . . and did such a great job. Workshops started on time . . . and were extremely well attended. Worship services started

August 8, 2007

Christian Standard

NACC: Blessings and Disappointments

By Mark A. Taylor Maybe it”s the hugs I remember most: grown men on city streets embracing as though they were at a family reunion. Which, of course, is exactly what we call the North American Christian Convention. It”s the connecting place, according to NACC publicity, and for many the meetings outside main sessions are the most important part of the week. It was true this year, July 3-6 in Kansas City, as much as any other. But the week was about far more than just fellowship. This year”s convention lifted up the need for church planting and promised a

June 27, 2007

Christian Standard

Our Greatest Hope

By Mark A. Taylor “This world is not my home; I”m just a-passin” through.” We sang the words with gusto in my youth group in Waukegan, Illinois, about 40 years ago. I”m not sure we understood what we were singing, or even believed it. Like typical teenagers everywhere, we were more about this world than the next. “We live in the greatest nation on earth.” British Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke the words in a speech announcing his retirement this spring. I was taken aback by his claim. Oh no, Tony, you”ve got it wrong. I live in the greatest

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