July 4, 2020

Happy Independence Day!

I trust that you are enjoying this day, hopefully with friends and/or family. As I think about this day, I am greatful that our founding fathers had the vision of what kind of legacy they might leave to their "progeny", that is their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc., etc. 

Bravely, against what truly seemed like unbeatable odds, they sought to strip the king of the most powerful country in the world at that time, of his unjust rule over the colonies. They were taxed, expoited, and left without any local representation.

Our founders, after much struggle and eventual victory, put in motion a better government utilizing a system of checks and balances of power and authority, thus making it difficult for a dictator to ever usurp this great nation.

Our founders divided the king's power into seperate but co-equal executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. They also established a representation form of governance. How? After appealing to God in categorical terms in the Declaration of Independance as the "Executive" or Creator, and as the Great "Legislator" or Lawgiver, and Supreme "Justice" or Judge, the founders provided a representational form of governance via agreement to a constitutional republic, and the ability to choose our own leaders to represent us. 

By with these two forms of representation, our freedoms have largely remained in tact for longer than any other country in existance today. It has not been perfect. There has never been a golden age that we can look back on as the perfect exemplar. Thus we constantly must work at both maintaining and improving our republic.

Yet, we are reminded that authority and government are God-given (Cf. Romans 13). Therefore, as children of God, according to the grace given to us by God, we are called to give  thanks for our leaders, and to pray for them, praying especially for their salvation, so that, if possible, they might come to the knowledge of the truth (I Timothy 2: 1-4). Romans 10 reminds us that in God's kingdom advance it is not enough for us to pray, we must also disciple, and appoint, and send people to speak God's truth, God's way, including to our leaders.

Every generation since the founding of our great republic has been presented with challenges to water-down or even rob entirely our freedoms. By God's grace and through courageous leaders throughout history we have been sustained. Yet, God is the One who ultimately raises up and brings down leaders and nations. therefore to Him alone we must ultimately give thanks, and place our hope. The Scriptures remind us that cursed is the man who places his faith in kings, or princes, or any man, rather than in God. 

I know 2020 has been a crazy year. Even crazier than I thought the year 2000 was going to be. Remember that?

What has brought peace to my heart during this time? Knowing that God is in control of His creation, all of history, and that Christ has overcome the world, including death itself, and that He is preparing a place for all who love Him and are called according to His purpose. 

Thank you for remaing faithful in your prayers for all our leaders. They need your continued prayers, for salvation, wisdom, courage, integrity, humility and for having hearts that are hungry and teachable to God! Our nation similarly needs your prayer, and so do we.  

Thank you also for standing with us, only by God's grace, and through your prayers and support can we continue to have a redemptive kingdom influence.

We sincerely thank you,

Please let us know if there is any way we can pray or minister to you,

In Christ,

Jason Palermo,

State Minister,

Capitol Commission, AR