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The Pinecone
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July 2016
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f r om Don J oh n s on , K i r b y P i n e s Chap l a i n
Chaplain’s COrner
OnMarch 11, 1782, GeorgeWashington
stated these words:
“I’m sure there never was a people
who had more reason to acknowledge a
Divine interposition in their affairs than
those of the United States.”
A T I ME T O R EMEMB E R
J u l y Vesper Serv ices
•
6:30pm
•
Per formi ng Ar t s Center
July 14th
Rabbi
Feizel Strauss
Temple Israel
July 21st
Andy
Andrews
St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral
July 28th
Barry
Grider
Forest Hill Church of Christ
July 7th
Reg
Germany
Ordained Minister
GEORGE WASH I NGTON
ANDR EW J ACKSON
Andrew Jackson in his farewell address
on March 4, 1837, declared:
“Providence has bestowed on this
favored land blessings without number,
and has chosen you as the guardians of
freedom, to preserve it for the benefit of
the human race. May He who holds the
destinies of nations make you worthy of
the favors He has bestowed and enable
you, with pure hearts and pure hands and
sleepless vigilance, to guard and defend
to the end of time the great charge He
has committed to your keeping.”
PAT R I CK HENRY
Patrick Henry, great Revolutionary
leader gave this powerful challenge on
March 23, 1773:
“It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter.
Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but
there is no peace. The war is actually
begun! The next gale that sweeps from
the north will bring to our ears the clash
of resounding arms! Our brethren are
already in the field! Why stand we here
idle? What is it that gentlemen wish?
What would they have? Is life so dear,
or peace so sweet as to be purchased at
the price of chains and slavery? Forbid
it, Almighty God! I know not what
course others may take; but as for me,
give me liberty or give me death.”
As we embrace America’s 240th
Liberty Celebration we must remember
the strong foundations upon which
the nation’s first patriots stood. Let’s
renew our loving commitment to “the
stars and stripes forever” as we broadly
wave our tri-colored flag. Let’s afresh
embrace our unbeatable Declaration
of Independence, Constitution and
Bill of Rights. Let’s proudly repeat
our “one nation under God” Pledge of
Allegiance.
If we fail to remember, our present will
be infinitely less enjoyable and our
future sadly less enduring. Proverbs
14:34 still holds, “Righteousness exalts
a nation, but sin is a reproach to any
people.” We must continue to have as
our motto “In God We Trust.” Perhaps
we are closer again to Patrick Henry’s
time when it’s liberty or death! May the
Lord strengthen us to choose wisely.
Until next time,
Don Johnson, KP Chaplain