As I watched the 2017 National Memorial Day Concert televised at the U. S. Capitol, the story of Captain Luis Avila, who was severely injured by a an IED explosion in Afghanistan five years before, was enacted. After coming out of a coma with a traumatic brain injury, paralysis, and an amputation, he was still going through 9 to 5 therapy five days a week. Tears came to my eyes while I witnessed his belting out of the song “God Bless America,” with opera singer Renee Fleming and his music therapist singing along at his side.

According to the website called “Performing Songwriter,” famous songwriter Irving Berlin came up with the song “God Bless America” in 1918. He wrote it for a military revue when he was in the army at Camp Upton, located in Yaphank, New York. The revue was called “Yip Yip Yaphank.” He decided to scrap the song instead, and he ended up stashing it away in the trunk where he stored all his song ideas. Twenty-two years later, with World War II seemingly around the bend, Berlin saw opportunity for the song. He made a little change or two in the lyrics and melody. Singer Kate Smith was hosting a popular CBS radio show at that time. She had entertained World War I troops when she was only eight years old. On November 11, 1938, the anniversary of the end of World War I, she performed Irving Berlin’s new song. To take a trip back to that time, click on the Youtube video below. Toward the end of the video there are glimpses into what it was like in those days.

As Christians we all want God to bless America, and nothing is more valuable for our country than that. But in order for God to bless America, we also have to do our part. You wouldn’t ask God to bless your home and then assume that you don’t have any responsibility for its success.  You know that someone in your home has to earn money to pay for your home and all your other needs. Someone has to do laundry and clean the house. Someone has to teach your children good behavior and pray for help in living according God’s Word. Likewise, we have responsibilities as citizens of the U.S.

Celebrating with barbecues and fireworks on the Fourth of July is one great way to show appreciation for our freedom. But there are other significant ways to show that we value the freedom we have in this country. Here are six ways that I feel are very important:

• Like it or not, WE NEED TO PAY OUR TAXES. We may need to remind our leaders that they have gone way beyond what our forefathers intended in their spending, but it is necessary to collect taxes in order to have roads, military protection, legislature buildings, courthouses, police and fire protection, and other basic needs.
• WE SHOULD NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED THE PRIVILEGE OF VOTING. We are so fortunate to live in a country where we have elected officials and a balance of powers to help prevent tyranny. Recently I watched a movie called Bridge of Spies, starring Tom Hanks. It’s a true story that took place during the tension of the cold war between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Russia) and the U.S. in the 1950’s. Attorney James Donovan travelled back and forth from the U.S. to communist-ravaged Germany when the wall had just been erected between East Berlin and West Berlin. The difference between the fear and oppression on the streets of Berlin and the peace and safety of the streets of America was so striking. Even with the unrest and incidents we have been experiencing lately in America, there is no comparison to the countries where tyranny reigns. Not only do we need to vote, but we need to be well informed voters. Dare we say we don’t have time to study the candidates and issues? Remembering that many lives were sacrificed to buy our freedom and what it would be like to be without that freedom, very few circumstances would seem to be worthy reasons for not taking time to be responsible voters. To vote in candidates simply because their names are familiar and we haven’t taken time to investigate the other candidates is irresponsible voting. Often incumbents are voted in again, even when they are serving the public poorly. (Also, I am concerned about the results of electing candidates who support socialist policies. I believe socialism eventually destroys the incentive to work. For an explanation of this argument, CLICK HERE. If you have studied, contemplated, and prayed about certain candidates or measures and remain undecided, I see nothing wrong with abstaining. It’s better to abstain than to vote the wrong way. When people vote carelessly, just so they can say they voted, it does damage to this country. Unless the people take their voting responsibility seriously, America is bound to go downhill.
• Another important way to contribute to our government is by respectfully WRITING LETTERS AND MAKING PHONE CALLS TO OUR POLITICAL LEADERS concerning issues about which we have strong convictions.  When we just complain among ourselves, we are accomplishing nothing. We must take time to let our voices be heard by the powers that be. Not wanting to refer to any particular website that may have its own agenda or may not be a stable website, I will share some tips for writing effective letters to politicians that were given in various websites:
• If your handwriting isn’t easy to read, type the letter.
• Address congressmen, senators, and judges as “The Honorable,” for example, “The Honorable Judge Jones.”
• Be polite.
• State your purpose early in the letter.
• Be brief—no more than a page.
• If communicating regarding a particular bill up for a vote, refer to the bill #.
• Give facts or personal experience that helps support your view.
• Offer alternative solutions, if appropriate.
• Draw attention to key thoughts with bold letters, underlining, or bullet points. Overdoing the bold letters or underlining will defeat the purpose.
• Don’t demand a response, but try asking a question that can’t be answered with a “yes” or “no” at the end of your letter.

Letters seem to be generally considered the most effective means of communicating with political leaders. One website suggested sending your letters by FAX to greatly speed up the process. You may find FAX machines at office supply stores or delivery service stores. In order to find contact information for elected officials of the Federal government, you can enter “Contact Elected Officials – USA.gov” in the search engine of your computer. To look for contact information of local officials, enter “Contact Local Officials in (name of your state)” in your search engine.

• Another way to help protect our freedom is for people of good character to run for office. I had the privilege of attending a prayer rally led by Franklin Graham last summer (2016). He suggested that we ENCOURAGE QUALIFIED CHRISTIANS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO RUN FOR OFFICE. What better way to keep a Christian influence in our country? He mentioned that there are many who may be qualified to serve on their local school boards. It is an unpaid position which may require a substantial investment of time, but can you imagine how great it would be to have an influence on issues regarding public education? In Oregon school board members are elected every two years. A recent issue of the Oregonian had an article by a school board member named Craig Prewitt. The article was entitled “The value of school board service is immeasurable.” Prewitt said, “We make choices about funding, curriculum, personnel, school calendars and, most importantly, children.”
• DON’T FORGET TO PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS. In I Timothy 2:1-2 the apostle Paul wrote, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Pray that our leaders will show favor to Israel. As recorded in Genesis 12:2-3, God told Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.
• WE MUST PRAY THAT OUR COUNTRY WILL RETURN TO GOD’S WAYS. John Adams stated that our Constitution was constructed “only for a moral and religious people and is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Our country, on the whole, has replaced morality and devotion to God with love of money and pleasures. We see corruption on every level of government. The religious freedom for which the Pilgrims left England and came to America now seems to be in jeopardy. You may have heard of the Sweet Cakes bakery in the state of Oregon, whose owners refused to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple. As of March 2nd of this year (2017), the owners were appealing a $135,000 fine. Although it’s probably right that they should be expected to sell miscellaneous baked goods to anyone who wants them, as they have, I feel they were completely within their rights to refuse to violate their consciences by using their services to support the celebration of a lesbian marriage. You may have also heard of the issue of Hobby Lobby craft stores refusing to provide insurance benefits to pay for abortion drugs because of their belief that abortion is a serious crime against the life of the unborn child. According to a Time article dated July 1, 2014, the Supreme Court ruled in Hobby Lobby’s favor. However, this decision will only apply to other companies “if five or fewer people own more than half the corporation.” We are reminded of the oft-quoted verse in 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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sins and will heal their land.”  Possibly you have heard the song that came from this Scripture. I hope that, by listening to the version of the song “If My People” below, you will be inspired to remember to spend time praying that we will turn to God with our whole hearts.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.TM