The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics

Happy Fourth of July, friends! It is one of my favorite holidays, because, like Thanksgiving, it is a great holiday to be thankful and count your blessings. I am so thankful for America and all the freedom it has given me to worship my Creator. Of course, I also have an affinity for the holiday because it means sticky, drippy watermelon, suntans from swimming all day, barbeque, family time and fireworks on a warm summer night.

I thought I'd include the lyrics of our National Anthem. We all know the first stanza, but do you know the rest? I particularly like the fourth, and last, stanza. We all know that this song, as is, would never be adopted as a National Anthem today. Let's celebrate that it boldly recognizes God as the giver of our freedoms and blessings! Happy Fourth!

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:

'Tis the star-spangled banner!

Oh long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,

A home and a country should leave us no more!

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Truths on Baptism

I made a quick note explaining our beliefs of baptism and what the Bible states in our family's dedication post below. Well, This weekend, Pastor Mike did a whole sermon on external signs like baptism, so I thought I'd post the information here for further study. You can hear the sermon--which I highly recommend--at http://www.compasschurch.org/sermons. It is called: The Gospel According to Abraham, Part 3 "Rethinking outward signs and inward realities."

If you want even more study on this topic, here are other sermons Pastor Mike has given which give much Bible study about the topic.You can go to http://www.compasschurch.org/ and then click on Focal Point to download these sermons for FREE.

CD # 0706 – A Crash Course on Christ’s Two Ordinances
CD # 0615 – A Crash Course in Justification & Sanctification
CD # 0634 – Why Don’t We Have to Keep All Those Old Testament Ceremonies?
CD # 0801 – Realities Instead of Rituals
CD # 0836 – No Hiding Behind Religious Trappings

Here are the questions on the back of the sermon (to spur application and further thought):

Application Questions
These questions are provided for your further study and application of today’s sermon. Thoughtfully writing out the answers to these questions will help to drive home the point of today’s study.

1. What are some of the dangers of failing to differentiate between the biblically commanded ceremonial signs and the realities they are supposed to represent?
Why do you think so many prefer to check the box of participating in an “external sign” rather than to engage in the “inward reality” of trusting completely in Christ?
2. Read Jeremiah 4:4 and Deuteronomy 30:6. Why are these passages so important in understanding the limitations of the Old Testament sign of physical circumcision?
3. Why do most couples (or why did you) choose to add a variety of symbolic formalities and ceremonial elements to their wedding event as opposed to simply filing the legal paperwork?
4. Read Matthew 28:19-20. In the New Covenant, Jesus commanded us to baptize those who have become his disciples. Have you been baptized by a church leader after you became a follower of Christ? If not, when will you? If so, what was that like?
5. How would you respond to someone who tells you that because water baptism does not save him, he is not going to do it?

Here are some resources which may assist you in a deeper study of the truths presented in this week’s sermon.
Carson, Alexander. Baptism: Its Mode and Subjects. Reprint. Kregel, 1981.
Conant, Thomas Jefferson. The Meaning and Use of BAPTIZEIN. Reprint. Kregel, 1977.
Dyer, Larry E. Baptism: The Believer’s First Obedience. Kregel Publications, 2000.
Erickson, Millard. “The Initiatory Rite of the Church” in Christian Theology (Second Edition). Baker Books, 1998.
Feinberg, John S. Continuity and Discontinuity: Perspectives on the Relationship Between OT & NT. Crossway, 1988.
Jewett, Paul K. Infant Baptism & the Covenant of Grace: An Appraisal of the Argument. Wipf & Stock, 1978.
Malone, Fred A. A String of Pearls Unstrung: A Theological Journey Into Believers’ Baptism. Founders Press, 1998.
Schreiner, Thomas, ed. Believer’s Baptism: Sign of the New Covenant in Christ. B & H Academic, 2006.
Unger, Merrill F. The Baptism & Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Moody Press, 1974.
Watson, T. E. Should Babies Be Baptized? Grace Publications, 1995.
Waymeyer, Matt. A Biblical Critique of Infant Baptism. Kress Christian Publications, 2008.
Whitney, Donald. Spiritual Disciplines Within the Church: Participating Fully in the Body of Christ. Moody, 1996.

Little Reminder on True Beauty

Beauty
If only we were as concerned with our spiritual beauty, as people in our culture are with their external attractiveness. Unfortunately, like the world, we often fail to value what God finds attractive. The kudos received for losing a few pounds or getting a hair cut are seemingly more gratifying than the benefits of a heart strengthened by grace or a character fortified with patience. But you can be sure that when the Scripture highlights the comparison between spiritual and physical attractiveness, our "inner beauty" is asserted to be of "great worth in God's sight" (1Pt.3:4). While we may not be complimented by our coworkers for a beautiful heart, we can know that God treasures the attractive spirit. He is quick to defend, support and draw near to those who, through thoughtful preparation, take the time to draw near to him by starting each day with the question "How does my spirit look today?"Pastor Mike

Many New Posts and Zumba

Well, I haven't been the best blogger lately, but I think everyone in the blogging world has been more remiss due to Facebook and life's busy pace. I have a few more posts below this one. Enjoy! I promise to TRY and be better about posting.
This video shows a kids' Zumba class that Carter takes for free at the YMCA. We go after naps, and he gets to run around and get out all his energy. He is one of the younger kiddos, and he really just does his own dance routine, but he loves it! It is great entertainment for me too!

Swim Lessons

Carter took swim lessons this summer. He did an amazing job for a little boy with a strong will and an aversion to anything in his face--including water. He was so excited about swim lessons, and he wanted desperately to jump off the diving board (which he eventually did). He learned to swim short distances with great "kickers" and "splashers" (legs and arms). He is rolling over to float on his back when he is tired, and he can swim to the wall, hand-walk along the wall and then crawl out of the pool from the wall. It was a great start to getting him pool safe. Enjoy some video! (You can turn off the music on the right hand side of my blog.)