Alan Dale Gross
Active Member
This is so wonderful to hear a Christian Salvation Testimonial, then the God-Honoring speech by George Washington, followed by the most perfect Scripture at the end.
WHY THANKSGIVING IS SPECIAL TO ME
By Tom Ross
Pastor, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church
Chesapeake, OH
"Americans now live in a culture that has become increasingly hostile to genuine Christianity. I often feel as though the Progressives have established a state church that promotes and indoctrinates the masses in the religion of secular humanism. Their priests and preachers may be found in our schools, universities, and in the media. Their doctrines are evolution, abortion, atheism, socialism, and especially freedom from any vestige of religious expression.
"Secular humanists would love for people to think of Thanksgiving Day as merely Turkey Day. Turkey Day is just another national day off dedicated to feasting, football, drinking and anticipating the crass commercialism of Black Friday. Little is made of God, His blessings, mercies, and the immeasurable bounties of His grace.
"Thanksgiving is special to me for several reasons, the first of which is personal. The Sunday after the Thanksgiving of 1980, God was pleased to save my unworthy soul from the ravages of sin. I had been addicted to drugs and alcohol since my early teens. I was miserable, without God, and without hope. If you had known me back then you would have probably thought that I was the least likely person to ever be saved. Yet God raised up a man who shared the Gospel of Christ with me. The Holy Spirit opened my sin blinded eyes and revealed that Jesus Christ is “The Way, the Truth, and the Life.” The death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ changed my life. Peace and forgiveness flooded my soul. The joys bells of that day are still ringing in my soul.
"Thanksgiving is special to me because it is a day where I will have the privilege to gather with family and friends to reflect upon the blessings of God. I don’t have much in the way of material wealth, but I feel as though I am one of the wealthiest men alive. God has blessed our family with food, clothing, a measure of good health, and a roof over our heads. God blessed me with wonderful parents and grandparents who taught me how to work hard and be self-reliant.
"God has blessed me with a faithful wife, healthy children, and precious grandbabies. I have the honor of being a pastor of one of the Lord’s churches and the joy of worshipping with some of the most special people on God’s green earth. As I gather around the table my soul will give thanks for all the spiritual and physical blessings God has showered upon my unworthy head.
"Thanksgiving is special to me because of all the blessings I enjoy as an American. I live in the greatest country in the world, the last bastion of freedom and liberty. In America we still have the freedom to worship God, pray, and read the Bible. We have freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. I thank God for the American soldiers who have served to protect these special privileges. I thank God for the founders of our nation who boldly declared that the Creator has endowed us with certain inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
"Much to the chagrin of the secular humanists, George Washington our first President issued the following Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789:
“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor;
"and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness…
"to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that Great and Glorious Being Who is the beneficent Author of all good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation…” The rest was omitted for sake of space, but this ought to be read in every school and church throughout America!
"Don’t let the Progressives and secular humanists steal the joy of what Thanksgiving Day really represents! Make it special.
"Psalm 100:3-5 declares: “Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath Made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the Sheep of His pasture. Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving, and into His Courts with Praise: be Thankful unto Him, and Bless His Name. For the LORD is Good; His Mercy is Everlasting; and His Truth Endureth to all generations.”
WHY THANKSGIVING IS SPECIAL TO ME
By Tom Ross
Pastor, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church
Chesapeake, OH
"Americans now live in a culture that has become increasingly hostile to genuine Christianity. I often feel as though the Progressives have established a state church that promotes and indoctrinates the masses in the religion of secular humanism. Their priests and preachers may be found in our schools, universities, and in the media. Their doctrines are evolution, abortion, atheism, socialism, and especially freedom from any vestige of religious expression.
"Secular humanists would love for people to think of Thanksgiving Day as merely Turkey Day. Turkey Day is just another national day off dedicated to feasting, football, drinking and anticipating the crass commercialism of Black Friday. Little is made of God, His blessings, mercies, and the immeasurable bounties of His grace.
"Thanksgiving is special to me for several reasons, the first of which is personal. The Sunday after the Thanksgiving of 1980, God was pleased to save my unworthy soul from the ravages of sin. I had been addicted to drugs and alcohol since my early teens. I was miserable, without God, and without hope. If you had known me back then you would have probably thought that I was the least likely person to ever be saved. Yet God raised up a man who shared the Gospel of Christ with me. The Holy Spirit opened my sin blinded eyes and revealed that Jesus Christ is “The Way, the Truth, and the Life.” The death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ changed my life. Peace and forgiveness flooded my soul. The joys bells of that day are still ringing in my soul.
"Thanksgiving is special to me because it is a day where I will have the privilege to gather with family and friends to reflect upon the blessings of God. I don’t have much in the way of material wealth, but I feel as though I am one of the wealthiest men alive. God has blessed our family with food, clothing, a measure of good health, and a roof over our heads. God blessed me with wonderful parents and grandparents who taught me how to work hard and be self-reliant.
"God has blessed me with a faithful wife, healthy children, and precious grandbabies. I have the honor of being a pastor of one of the Lord’s churches and the joy of worshipping with some of the most special people on God’s green earth. As I gather around the table my soul will give thanks for all the spiritual and physical blessings God has showered upon my unworthy head.
"Thanksgiving is special to me because of all the blessings I enjoy as an American. I live in the greatest country in the world, the last bastion of freedom and liberty. In America we still have the freedom to worship God, pray, and read the Bible. We have freedom of speech and the right to bear arms. I thank God for the American soldiers who have served to protect these special privileges. I thank God for the founders of our nation who boldly declared that the Creator has endowed us with certain inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
"Much to the chagrin of the secular humanists, George Washington our first President issued the following Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1789:
“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor;
"and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness…
"to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that Great and Glorious Being Who is the beneficent Author of all good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation…” The rest was omitted for sake of space, but this ought to be read in every school and church throughout America!
"Don’t let the Progressives and secular humanists steal the joy of what Thanksgiving Day really represents! Make it special.
"Psalm 100:3-5 declares: “Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath Made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the Sheep of His pasture. Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving, and into His Courts with Praise: be Thankful unto Him, and Bless His Name. For the LORD is Good; His Mercy is Everlasting; and His Truth Endureth to all generations.”