for the month of September, 2010
This should not come to anyone’s surprise for those of you who heard me preach on the 4th of July, but I am deeply concerned about the future of our nation. There is so much that troubles me right now and as a result, I am personally engaged in some diligent research. While I have always been interested in history, the developments over the last few years have caused me to look more carefully at the origins, founding, and early developments of our great nation. For example, Pat and I visited Lexington and Concord in the spring of this year, followed by Williamsburg and Mt. Vernon during our vacation. We have plans for revisiting Boston’s historic Freedom Trail in the fall.
I am also reading books related to what our Founders truly
believed. May I suggest that, instead of depending on
revisionists’ opinions, you pick up a volume
entitled, Our Sacred
Honor: Words of Advice from the Founders in Stories,
Letters, Poems, and Speeches by William J.
Bennett (Simon & Schuster, 1997). This book provides us
with the Founders’ own thoughts on patriotism and courage,
love and courtship, civility and friendship, education of
the head and heart, industry and frugality, justice and
piety. It is a remarkable book quoting remarkable men and
women!
Dr. Peter Lillback, the president of Westminster
Theological Seminary, has written a wonderful book on
George Washington called, George
Washington’s Sacred Fire (Providence Forum
Press, 2006). Don’t be daunted by the fact that this book
has nearly 1200 pages! It has many advantages going for it
and it actually reads very well. But what is most important
is this – Washington was a Christian, a devout Christian
and not a Deist; and Washington’s belief in God’s
providence toward the success of the American Revolution –
and the future of the nation - is truly impressive.
A book I am just now reading and would recommend is
Samuel Adams: A
Life by Ira Stoll (Free
Press, 2008). I have always heard so much about John Adams,
especially through the popular biography by David
McCullough and the HBO series. But did you know that Samuel
Adams was probably converted to faith in Christ through the
evangelistic preaching of George Whitefield in Boston? I am
truly impressed with this Founder who was a deeply devoted
disciple of Jesus Christ and who saw and spoke often of
God’s providential Hand upon the events of the founding of
this nation, as trying and difficult as those events were
at times.
Lastly, let me recommend to you a newly revised and updated
version of Peter Marshall and David Manuel’s book,
The
Light and the Glory (Revell, 1977,
2009). I finished this book on vacation and I was so very
pleased to have been able to read it. Covering the years
1492 – 1793, the authors begin with the story of
Christopher Columbus and continue on through the founding
of our nation. Again and again, without neglecting to point
out this nation’s faults and setbacks, the contents bring
forth the thread of God’s purposes, designs, and
providential care for this nation. All good reading!!!
On the Journey with You,
Bill Maxwell