February 2010

Dear Friend:

The ministry of CCC was formed in the summer of 1985. This year will be our 25th year of ministry in Lodi, and San Joaquin County. Over the course of those years, I have become a student of "Early American Christian History." It begins with Columbus discovering the Americas in 1492, to the Pilgrims landing in Boston Harbor at Plymouth Rock where they drafted, "THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT" which stated their purpose for the voyage which was to establish a new Colony for the advancement of the Christian Faith.

That small Christian colony began to grow, and soon other Christian families began migrating to this new found land, until that first colony became thirteen colonies. Over the next 150 years, this nation began to prosper to the point that King George of England began to put restrictions and regulations on the people until they became unreasonable and burdensome, (remember the Boston Tea Party?) so the people revolted, and decided that it was time to separate from the Mother Country.

The newly formed Continental Congress convened for the first time in 1774, and drafted The Declaration of Independence In 1776, and for eleven years they fought and defeated King George and the most powerful nation in existence at that time, and on September 17, 1787, Congress signed the Constitution of The United States.

In those days, the population in America was overwhelmingly made up of Christians. Our laws were based on the Judeo-Christian ethic which includes both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

The Declaration of Independence declared the basic foundational principles that this country was founded on when it said: "WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS."

In other words, these rights are given to us by God, not government. And the main function of government is to secure our god-given rights

Abraham Lincoln reflected on this as he looked out over the battlefield of Gettysburg when he said these words: "Our Fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." He later ended his speech by saying,

"That this Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of Freedom, and that Government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth."

The secret of our success and prosperity has always been, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

America has been tested severely many times over the last 234 years. During the Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, Vietnam, Iraq, and now the Taliban.

However, the challenge we are facing right now may be the biggest test we have ever been in. Our biggest enemy is not the Taliban, but in some ways it’s with our own government. The present administration is not embracing a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. In his own words, our President believes that only government has the answer, and only government can fix our problems. People are to the point now to where by and large they have lost faith in our President and Congress, and our financial institutions. Millions of Americans are feeling betrayed by the very ones that are charged with securing our god-given rights. There is a real sense that our ship is sinking, and it's every man for him. That is of real concern to me. Businesses, churches, schools, and families are all suffering because of greed, and the self-interests of those we have put our trust in. At the same time, other religions and atheists are working hard to get the gospel of Jesus Christ totally out of the civic arena.

I’m more concerned for America today, than I was 25 years ago. I'm terribly grieved for those who have lost their homes, jobs, businesses, and life-savings this last year. The American dream is turning into a nightmare; however, we who know the Lord know that our help comes from Him. I still have faith in Him to see us through, and I still have faith in the principles and values that our Founding Fathers gave us, and I still have faith in the fact that God is hearing the prayers of His people.

I still believe in the promise of II Chronicles 7:14, "IF MY PEOPLE, WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY, AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS; THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN, AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.

Let's all join together and pray for our Country as a Civil Body Politic. Amen?

Please remember that again this month we are reminding you it is time to renew your membership in CCC. We are very thankful for you who have joined for the first time, renewed your membership, and have become a monthly supporter. Without your consistent support, we would not be able to continue.

Please complete the enclosed response form. If you have already responded, we thank you very much. Thank you for your prayers. You are a blessing to us!

Sincerely,

Ken Owen, Director