{"id":7770,"date":"2015-07-09T12:49:09","date_gmt":"2015-07-09T16:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=7770"},"modified":"2015-07-21T19:48:34","modified_gmt":"2015-07-21T23:48:34","slug":"dependence-upon-god-7515","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=7770","title":{"rendered":"Dependence Upon God (7\/5\/15)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><span style=\"color: #000080;\">On July 4, we celebrated the independence of our country from England.\u00a0 But on July 5, Pastor Jim led us into a celebration of our <span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">DEPENDENCE<\/span> on God.\u00a0 Our nation&#8217;s roots are founded on God, and we need to keep praying for all of our leaders.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Click the below &#8220;play&#8221; button to start the recording, then scroll down to follow along&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-7770-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Sermon-2015-07-05b-Dependance-Upon-God-by-Pastor-Jim-Bolton-6kbs-mono_BAK.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Sermon-2015-07-05b-Dependance-Upon-God-by-Pastor-Jim-Bolton-6kbs-mono_BAK.mp3\">https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Sermon-2015-07-05b-Dependance-Upon-God-by-Pastor-Jim-Bolton-6kbs-mono_BAK.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><em>Our scripture was from 1 Timothy 2:1-7.\u00a0 Pastor Jim read from The Living Bible translation (paraphrase)&#8230;<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<div class='et-learn-more clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='heading-more'>1 Timothy 2:1-7<span class='et_learnmore_arrow'><span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='learn-more-content'><span style=\"color: #000000;\">1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">5 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity\u2014the man Christ Jesus. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">7 And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I&#8217;m not exaggerating\u2014just telling the truth.\u00a0<\/span>\n<em><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">New Living Bible<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Fourth of July Quiz&#8230;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Even though there have been many changes in our culture and in the government that represents it, it is well to remember that our Founding Fathers were largely people of faith.\u00a0 Try out this &#8220;quiz&#8221;; you might be surprised!<\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class='et-simple-slider et_sliderfx_fade et_sliderauto_false et_sliderauto_speed_5000 et_slidertype_simple'>\n\t\t\t<div class='et-simple-slides'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">OUR FIRST PRESIDENT TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE AND PUT HIS HAND ON ____?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><div class='et-learn-more clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='heading-more'>Click Here for the Answer<span class='et_learnmore_arrow'><span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='learn-more-content'>The Bible!\u00a0 And every president since has done the same thing.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">HOW DID THE FOUNDING FATHERS DETERMINE TO OPEN SESSIONS OF CONGRESS?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><div class='et-learn-more clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='heading-more'>Click Here for the Answer<span class='et_learnmore_arrow'><span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='learn-more-content'><strong><span style=\"color: #003300;\">Prayer!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The inclusion of prayer before the opening of each session of both the House and Senate, traces its origins back to the days of the Continental Congress and the official recommendation of Benjamin Franklin on June 28, 1787:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: 10pt;\">I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live,\u00a0 the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of men.\u00a0 And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?\u00a0 We have been assured in the sacred writings, that &#8216;except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.&#8217;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #800080; font-size: 10pt;\">I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, imploring the assistance of heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><em>&#8230; Close the answer drop down before clicking &#8220;Next&#8221; (or, if you click &#8220;Next&#8221;\u00a0 first, you&#8217;ll have to scroll up to see the remaining questions)&#8230;<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">WHO LEADS THE PRAYERS IN CONGRESS?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><div class='et-learn-more clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='heading-more'>Click Here for the Answer<span class='et_learnmore_arrow'><span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='learn-more-content'><strong><span style=\"color: #003300;\">The official Chaplain of the Congress<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">WHO PAYS FOR THAT CHAPLAIN?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><div class='et-learn-more clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='heading-more'>Click Here for the Answer<span class='et_learnmore_arrow'><span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='learn-more-content'><strong><span style=\"color: #003300;\">The Chaplain is Taxpayer Funded!\n<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Doesn&#8217;t that violate the constitution?\n<strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Nope!-<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.usscamerica.com\/constitutional_basis_for_paid_military_chaplains.php\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here<\/a><\/span> for a discussion about this issue.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">WHO DECIDED TO PUT &#8220;IN GOD WE TRUST&#8221; ON OUR COINS?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><div class='et-learn-more clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='heading-more'>Click Here for the Answer<span class='et_learnmore_arrow'><span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='learn-more-content'><strong><span style=\"color: #003300;\">Congress! <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #003300;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This was adopted on April 22, 1864.\u00a0 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.treasury.gov\/about\/education\/pages\/in-god-we-trust.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here<\/a><\/span> for more information on this act.<\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"color: #003300;\">\n<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> <!-- .et-simple-slider -->\n\t\t\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Does all of that sound like the founding fathers wanted to keep God out of government?<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In his letter to Thomas Jefferson, on June 28, 1813, John Adams wrote:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #003300;\">The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to approve a complete separation from England.<\/li>\n<li>Two days later, the early draft of the Declaration of Independence was signed.<\/li>\n<li>Four days later, the Declaration was read out loud to the people of Philadelphia.<\/li>\n<li>After that, they rang what we now know as the Liberty Bell&#8230;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class='et-box et-info'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et-box-content'><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The inscription on the Liberty Bell is from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Leviticus+25%3A8-17&amp;version=TLB\" target=\"_blank\">Leviticus 25:10<\/a>, which says:\n<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Proclaim liberty throughout the land and to all\u00a0 the inhabitants thereof.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Independence AND Dependence!<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When John Adams and the other signers affixed their names to the Declaration of Independence they were committing treason and opening themselves to England&#8217;s death penalty.\u00a0 The closing paragraph of the Declaration says:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #003300;\">And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>After signing the document, Adams is quoted as saying: &#8220;<strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Whether we live or die, sink or swim, succeed or fail, I stand behind this Declaration of Independence.\u00a0 And if God wills it, I am ready to die in order that this country might experience freedom.&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Are we willing to make that same commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ?<\/p>\n<p>Just as the cross was our &#8220;Birth Certificate&#8221; of new life in the Grace and forgiveness given by Christ, our freedom was carried on the shoulders of those who were willing to give their all.\u00a0 The founding fathers declared independence from England, but they also made an equally strong declaration of DEPENDENCE on God!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Our Leaders were Men of Prayer&#8230;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arnold_Friberg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-7836\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/450px-The_Prayer_at_Valley_Forge_by_Arnold_Friberg-300x186.png\" alt=\"450px-The_Prayer_at_Valley_Forge_by_Arnold_Friberg\" width=\"213\" height=\"132\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/450px-The_Prayer_at_Valley_Forge_by_Arnold_Friberg-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/450px-The_Prayer_at_Valley_Forge_by_Arnold_Friberg.png 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px\" \/><\/a>George Washington&#8217;s army had more defeats during the war than victorys.\u00a0 But weather, &#8220;luck&#8221;, and so many events made it clear that the hand of God was with us during this revolution.<\/p>\n<p>In the darkest moments of the Revolutionary war, General George Washington is said to have knelt in the snow of Valley Forge to call upon God for His guidance.<\/p>\n<p>The painting entitled &#8220;The Prayer at Valley Forge&#8221; by <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arnold_Friberg\" target=\"_blank\">Arnold Friberg<\/a><\/span> (in 1975), depicts the &#8220;Father of our Country&#8221; turning to our Heavenly Father.\u00a0 Peter Dominy, CEO of Friberg Fine Art, inc said:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #003300;\">We trust that this painting will create a lasting legacy that can be viewed and remembered by all citizens and visitors as a symbol of this nation&#8217;s birth that eloquently communicates the need for prayer in guiding the people and leaders of the United States of America.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class='et-box et-download'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et-box-content'><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Abraham Lincoln routinely rose at 4:00AM to pray.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<div class='et-box et-download'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et-box-content'><span style=\"color: #000000;\">President Franklin Roosevelt, on the eve of the D-Day invasion, gave an impassioned prayer on the radio affirming his reliance on God.\u00a0 Here&#8217;s how the prayer ended&#8230; (<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.historyplace.com\/speeches\/fdr-prayer.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Click Here<\/a> <\/span>to listen to the entire prayer)&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #003300;\">With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace &#8212; a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #003300;\">Thy will be done, Almighty God.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Pray for Our Leaders&#8230;<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Our Christian response to government is to pray for our leaders.\u00a0 In Romans 13, Paul says that the leadership is there for our peace.\u00a0 He writes in 1 Timothy 2:2 that we should pray for all of our leaders because God put them there to give us earthly peace and freedom so that we could freely worship God.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.\u00a0 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.\u00a0<\/span> <\/em><\/strong>(The Message)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>You may not have voted for some of these people; you may not even like some of them.\u00a0 But we need to be in constant prayer for all of them.\u00a0 Paul is saying, &#8220;<strong><span style=\"color: #003300;\">Pray for these leaders who have the authority to lead in a way that brings peace for the church and all people to thrive and to live freely, not in opposition to, but under protection of the state.<\/span><\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>God doesn&#8217;t care if we&#8217;re an elephant or donkey&#8230;\u00a0 He comes first.\u00a0 Pray for whomever is in office.\u00a0 Be proactive, pray ahead of time, and then watch God work.\u00a0 If &#8220;the other person&#8221; gets in office, does God jump up and scratch his head, &#8220;what are we going to do?!?&#8221;\u00a0 No.\u00a0 God says just keep praying. I&#8217;ve got it covered.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class='et-simple-slider et_sliderfx_fade et_sliderauto_true et_sliderauto_speed_4999 et_slidertype_simple'>\n\t\t\t<div class='et-simple-slides'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_7757\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7757\" class=\"wp-image-7757 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Biden-Joe-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Biden-Joe-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Biden-Joe.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-7757\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_7758\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Boehner-John.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7758\" class=\"wp-image-7758 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Boehner-John-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"John Boehnor, Speaker of the House\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Boehner-John-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Boehner-John.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7758\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">John Boehner, Speaker of the House<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_7759\" style=\"width: 248px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Booker-Corry.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7759\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7759\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Booker-Corry-238x300.jpg\" alt=\"Cory Booker, US Senate (NJ)\" width=\"238\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Booker-Corry-238x300.jpg 238w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Booker-Corry.jpg 327w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7759\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cory Booker, US Senate (NJ)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_7761\" style=\"width: 222px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Christie-Chris.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7761\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7761\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Christie-Chris-212x300.jpg\" alt=\"Chris Christie, Governor NJ\" width=\"212\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Christie-Chris-212x300.jpg 212w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Christie-Chris.jpg 292w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 212px) 100vw, 212px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7761\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chris Christie, Governor NJ<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_7762\" style=\"width: 256px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_LoBiondo-Frank.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7762\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7762\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_LoBiondo-Frank-246x300.jpg\" alt=\"FrankLoBiondo, US House of Representatives (NJ-3rd)\" width=\"246\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_LoBiondo-Frank-246x300.jpg 246w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_LoBiondo-Frank-140x170.jpg 140w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_LoBiondo-Frank.jpg 338w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 246px) 100vw, 246px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7762\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Frank LoBiondo, House of Representatives<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_7763\" style=\"width: 247px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_McConnell-Mitch.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7763\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7763\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_McConnell-Mitch-237x300.jpg\" alt=\"Mitch McConnell, US Senate Majority Leader\" width=\"237\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_McConnell-Mitch-237x300.jpg 237w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_McConnell-Mitch.jpg 326w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 237px) 100vw, 237px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7763\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mitch McConnell, US Senate Majority Leader<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_7764\" style=\"width: 247px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Menendez-Robert.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7764\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7764\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Menendez-Robert-237x300.jpg\" alt=\"Bob Menendez, US Senator (NJ)\" width=\"237\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Menendez-Robert-237x300.jpg 237w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Menendez-Robert.jpg 326w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 237px) 100vw, 237px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7764\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bob Menendez, US Senator (NJ)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_7765\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Norcross-Donald.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7765\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7765\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Norcross-Donald-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Donald Norcross, US House of Representatives (NJ-1st)\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Norcross-Donald-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Norcross-Donald-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Norcross-Donald-178x178.jpg 178w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Norcross-Donald-184x184.jpg 184w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Norcross-Donald.jpg 413w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7765\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Donald Norcross, US House of Representatives (NJ-1st)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_7766\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Obama-Barack.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7766\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7766\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Obama-Barack-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"Barack Obama, President of the United States\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Obama-Barack-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Obama-Barack.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7766\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Barack Obama, President of the United States<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_7767\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Pelosi-Nancy.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7767\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7767\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Pelosi-Nancy-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader US House of Representatives\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Pelosi-Nancy-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Pelosi-Nancy.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7767\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader, House<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_7768\" style=\"width: 247px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Reid-Harry.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7768\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7768\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Reid-Harry-237x300.jpg\" alt=\"Harry Reid, Minority Leader US Senate\" width=\"237\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Reid-Harry-237x300.jpg 237w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Reid-Harry.jpg 326w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 237px) 100vw, 237px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7768\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Harry Reid, Minority Leader US Senate<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<div id=\"attachment_7769\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Roberts-John.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7769\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7769\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Roberts-John-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"John Roberts, Chief Justice US Supreme Court\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Roberts-John-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Pol-Pray-_Roberts-John.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7769\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">John Roberts, Chief Justice US Supreme Court<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> <!-- .et-simple-slider -->\n\t\t\n<p>And there are so many others.\u00a0 We need to pray for our county and township leaders.\u00a0 Pray for our <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?page_id=596\" target=\"_blank\">pastor<\/a><\/span>, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=4426\" target=\"_blank\">District\u00a0Superintendent<\/a><\/span> and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=286\" target=\"_blank\">bishop<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0 Pray for the delegates to next year&#8217;s General Conference.\u00a0 We may agree or disagree with some of the decisions that have been made, but we can pray that God&#8217;s will is always followed.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t like what ___ did.&#8221;\u00a0 <strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">PRAY!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Prayer may not make what we want to happen, but prayer can change us to be more what God wants.\u00a0 Prayer is to &#8220;Make it His way&#8221; (not Burger King&#8217;s &#8220;Have it YOUR way&#8221;).<\/p>\n<p>You may not agree with decisions our leaders make, but they&#8217;re still giving you the freedom to worship and to serve God.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">If MY People Will Pray!!!<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Paul calls us to a ministry of prayer in 1 Timothy 2:1 where he says that &#8220;<strong><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for ALL people&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">All People!?!\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Remember that Paul is writing this during the reign of Emperor <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nero\" target=\"_blank\">Nero<\/a><\/span>!\u00a0 Nero blamed the Christians for a fire in Rome,so he got back at them by using Christians as human torches!\u00a0 We complain about some politicians we don&#8217;t like, but consider where Paul was coming from.\u00a0 In verse 2 of 1 Timothy 2, Paul is saying that we should pray for all who are in authority over us&#8230;.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">&#8230; for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.<\/span> <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Notice that Paul doesn&#8217;t say something like, &#8220;hey God- blast Nero into utter oblivion.\u00a0 He&#8217;s really a bad dude!\u00a0 You&#8217;ve got to do something about him!!!&#8221;\u00a0 NO!\u00a0 Paul tells us to &#8220;pray for kings&#8221;&#8230;\u00a0 and\u00a0 all who are in high positions, &#8220;that we may lead a peaceful and quite life.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>In other words, pray for peace amidst persecution.<\/p>\n<div class='et-box et-bio'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et-box-content'><span style=\"color: #000000;\">John Chrysostom, a 4th century Church Father, said:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you pray for someone it makes it a lot harder to hate a person, to despise a person, to react negatively against a person.\u00a0 When you pray for someone, you begin to love that person.<\/span>\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<div class='tabs-left et_sliderfx_fade et_sliderauto_false et_sliderauto_speed_5000 et_slidertype_left_tabs clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et_left_tabs_bg'><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class='et-tabs-control'>\n\t\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tAB Simpson\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tPatrick Henry\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tAbraham Lincoln\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --><\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content'>\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-main-wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #000000;\">A.B. Simpson, founder of the Christian Missionary Alliance, was said to wake up in the morning, fall on his knees, clutch a globe and just begin to weep in prayer.\u00a0 Oh, that this would be the picture of our lives all throughout the week, and then our life together as a church when we come together.\u00a0 That we are clutching, embracing the world in prayer.<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #000000;\">It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religion, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<span style=\"color: #000000;\">We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. 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, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel\u00a0 the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God who made us.\u00a0 It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended power, to confess\u00a0 our national sins,\u00a0 and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .tabs-left -->\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>One of the Bible&#8217;s key verses on prayer is 2 Chronicles 7:14&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong> NKJV<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">If MY People<\/span><\/strong>&#8230;\u00a0 We need to be in prayer for everyone.\u00a0 We need to be praying all the time.\u00a0 When&#8217;s the last time\u00a0 you prayed for the President? Or for congress?<\/p>\n<p>God&#8217;s people have a mission to pray for all kinds of different people: Jews and Gentiles, Rich and Poor, different ethnicities, different nationalities, different backgrounds, different demographics.\u00a0 Let your prayers be diverse.\u00a0 Don&#8217;t\u00a0 let your praying be elitist.\u00a0 Don&#8217;t let your praying only be for people you like or people who agree with you on a particular position.\u00a0 The prayers of God&#8217;s people\u00a0 must be for all persons&#8230; Regardless!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Prayer:\u00a0 The Devil&#8217;s Greatest Fear!<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>James 5:16 tells us&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #800080;\">Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 NKJV<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Satan&#8217;s main concern is to keep Christians from praying!\u00a0 Someone has said that &#8220;the devil trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees.&#8221;\u00a0 God&#8217;s people need to use of freedom of religion and pray for our country and for those in authority over us.<\/p>\n<div class='et-box et-download'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et-box-content'><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Samuel_Chadwick\" target=\"_blank\">Samuel Chadwick<\/a><\/span>, <span style=\"color: #000000;\">a 19th century Methodist preacher said&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong><span style=\"color: #003300;\">The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying.\u00a0 He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, or prayerless religion.\u00a0 He laughs at our toil, mocks at\u00a0 our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class='et-box et-download'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et-box-content'><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Andrew_Murray_%28minister%29\" target=\"_blank\">Andrew Murray<\/a><\/span>, <span style=\"color: #000000;\">the great South African Christian writer said&#8230;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #003300;\">The man who mobilizes the Christian Church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history.<\/span> <\/em><\/strong><\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As a people of God, as people who are called to pray, as citizens of the greatest country in human history, we pause to thank God for our land and recognize God&#8217;s gracious blessings upon our great land.\u00a0 Use our freedom to pray to God, and then watch as God brings about change.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps we can begin today praying for our nation and all elected officials by simply praying the words which are very familiar to Philadelphia Flyer fans.\u00a0 Words which were penned by Irving Berlin and have been immortalized\u00a0 by the late Kate Smith:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">God bless America, land that I love.\u00a0 Stand beside her,\u00a0 and guide her, through the night with the light from above.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white with foam.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #000000;\">God bless America!\u00a0 My home sweet home!<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class='et-box et-bio'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et-box-content'><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/truthinhistory.org\/no-king-but-jesus-2.html\" target=\"_blank\">On April 18, 1775<\/a><\/span> John Adams and John Hancock were at the home of Rev. Jonas Clarke, a Lexington pastor and militia leader. The morning after Paul Revere warned them of the approaching Redcoats, British Major Pitcairn shouted to an assembled regiment of Minutemen: <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">&#8220;Disperse, ye villains, lay down your arms in the name of George the Sovereign King of England.&#8221;<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The immediate response of Rev. Clark and his company was: <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em><span style=\"color: #003300;\">&#8220;We recognize no Sovereign but God and no King but Jesus!&#8221;<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<p>Pray for eachother.\u00a0 Pray for our church.\u00a0 Pray for our leaders.<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><em>God will bless America when we proclaim:\u00a0 &#8220;We have no King but Jesus!&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Our country&#8217;s founding father&#8217;s and presidents have consistently acknowledged the power of prayer and our Dependence on God.\u00a0 Pastor Jim researched the following quotes, but didn&#8217;t have time to include them in the spoken sermon.\u00a0 Here&#8217;s some &#8220;bonus material&#8221; included only on the website&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<div class='et-learn-more clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='heading-more'>Bonus Tracks<span class='et_learnmore_arrow'><span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='learn-more-content'><div class='tabs-left et_sliderfx_fade et_sliderauto_false et_sliderauto_speed_5000 et_slidertype_left_tabs clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et_left_tabs_bg'><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class='et-tabs-control'>\n\t\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tAdams\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tJefferson\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tQ Adams\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tFranklin\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tT Roosevelt\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tWilson\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tCoolidge\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tHoover\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tTruman\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tFord\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --> \n\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content'>\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-main-wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">John Adams (2nd president), in 1778 wrote: <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.\u00a0 It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Thomas Jefferson, in 1871, wrote:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">John Quincy Adams (6th president): <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">No book in the world deserves to be so unceasingly studied, and so profoundly meditated upon as the bible.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Benjamin Franklin, at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 said:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">God governs the affairs of men.\u00a0 And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid???<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Theodore Roosevelt (26th president), in 1917 wrote:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">In this actual world, a churchless community, a community where men have abandoned and scoffed at, or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid down-grade.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Woodrow Wilson (28th president), in 1911 wrote:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">America was born a Christian nation.\u00a0 America was\u00a0 born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of the Holy Scripture.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Calvin Coolidge (30th president), in 1923 wrote:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">(<em>Our Founding Fathers<\/em>) were intent upon establishing a Christian commonwealth in accordance with the principle of self-government.\u00a0 They were an inspired body of men. It has been said that God sifted the nations that He might send choice grain into the wilderness&#8230; Who can fail to see it in the hand of destiny?\u00a0 Who can doubt that it has been guided by a divine Providence?<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">President Herbert Hoover finished his inauguration address with these words:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">I ask the help of Almighty God in this service to my country to which you have called me.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Harry S. Truman (33rd president), said:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If men and nations would but live by the precepts of the ancient prophets and the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, problems which now seem so difficult would soon disappear.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<strong><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Gerald Ford (38th president), in 1974 quoted a 1955 speech by President Eisenhower:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Without God there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life.\u00a0 Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first- the most basic- expression of Americanism.\u00a0 Thus the founding fathers of America saw it, and thus with God&#8217;s help, it will continue to be.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .tabs-left -->\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">\u00a0Quiz Time!<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #000080;\">As you reflect on what you&#8217;ve just heard\/read, give this quiz a try.\u00a0 If you don&#8217;t understand an answer (or if you disagree with the &#8220;correct&#8221; answer, post a comment)&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<div id='quizArea'>\n<script type='text\/javascript'>\njQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n$( function($){\nvar quiz = {\nmultiList:\n[{ ques: 'Whose idea was it to open each session of Congress with prayer?',\nans: 'Benjamin Franklin',\nansSel: [ 'John Boehner',  'John Adams' ] },\n{ ques: 'What did Pastor Jim say about praying for our political leaders?',\nans: 'Pray for all- they secure our freedom',\nansSel: [ 'Pray that they make the decisions you want',  'Only pray for the ones you trust' ] },\n{ ques: 'What makes Pauls command to pray for all people so powerful?',\nans: 'He was telling his readers to even pray for Nero!',\nansSel: [ 'Paul was not known for his prayer life.',  'He was riding a horse warning people that the British were coming.' ] },\n{ ques: 'We need to pray for our leaders.\u00a0 What is the name of our District Superintendent?',\nans: 'Jisun Kwak',\nansSel: [ 'Richard Nichols',  'John Schol' ] },\n{ ques: 'What did A.B. Simpson do every morning?',\nans: 'Clutch a globe and weep',\nansSel: [ 'Fall on his Bible and read a map',  'Pray only for the United States' ] },\n{ ques: 'Extra Credit- Who said that our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people?',\nans: 'John Adams',\nansSel: [ 'Benjamin Franklin',  'Ronald Regan' ] }]\n};\nvar options = {\ntitle: 'Dependence on God',\nhelp: 'Select the correct answer and click Check.',\nshowAns: false,\nshowAnsInfo: false,\nallRandom: false,\nshowFeedback: false,\nrandom: false\n};\nvar lang = {\nquiz : { tfEqual:'' }\n};\n$( '#quizArea' ).jQuizMe( quiz, options, lang );\n$( \".q-innerArea\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#EECCAA\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n$( \".quiz-el\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#776655\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n$( \".q-ques\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#EEEEEE\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n$( \".q-ansSel\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#EEEEEE\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n$( \".q-result\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#EEEEEE\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n});\n}(jQuery))\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #003300;\"><strong>+\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?cat=50\">Click Here<\/a><\/strong><\/span> to view other sermons.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On July 4, we celebrated the independence of our country from England.\u00a0 But on July 5, Pastor Jim led us into a celebration of our DEPENDENCE on God.\u00a0 Our nation&#8217;s roots are founded on God, and we need to keep praying for all of our leaders. Click the below &#8220;play&#8221; button to start the recording, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7836,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[103,107,109],"class_list":["post-7770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sermons","tag-freedom","tag-prayer","tag-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7770"}],"version-history":[{"count":68,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7770\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7915,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7770\/revisions\/7915"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}