A Christian Manifesto~By Francis Shaeffer

Francis & Edith Shaeffer

This address was delivered by the late Dr. Schaeffer in 1982 and is from his book: A Christian Manifesto. This is quite lengthy but worth reading.

Christians, in the last 80 years or so, have only been seeing things as bits and pieces which have gradually begun to trouble them and others, instead of understanding that they are the natural outcome of a change from a Christian World View to a Humanistic one; things such as overpermissiveness, pornography, the problem of the public schools, the breakdown of the family, abortion, infanticide (the killing of newborn babies), increased emphasis upon the euthanasia of the old and many, many other things.

All of these things and many more are only the results. We may be troubled with the individual thing, but in reality we are missing the whole thing if we do not see each of these things and many more as only symptoms of the deeper problem. And that is the change in our society, a change in our country, a change in the Western world from a Judeo-Christian consensus to a Humanistic one. That is, instead of the final reality that exists being the infinite creator God; instead of that which is the basis of all reality being such a creator God, now largely, all else is seen as only material or energy which has existed forever in some form, shaped into its present complex form only by pure chance.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

One of my favorite hymns written by Thomas Chisholm is Great is thy faithfulness. I’m not sure when I first heard this hymn…perhaps in church or on television watching a Billy Graham crusade.  Matthew Ward from the group 2nd Chapter of Acts did an amazing and unforgettable job singing this hymn.  This Youtube clip is not the usual arrangement.  I’m the type person who likes everything to stay the same…so at first I did not like this version of the song.  Now though,  I love it!!!  I hope you will enjoy it too.  Same great faith building lyrics.  Perfect for Thanksgiving.  (scroll down past the clock and turn off the website music before beginning this song)  I think you will like it too.  🙂

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

What Are You Thankful For This Year?

Each year at Thanksgiving our family has a sharing time  to discuss  all that we we are thankful for.  We are required to just name one thing.  Sometimes we write this down to share with each other after dinner, sometimes we discuss it before dinner.  When I’m put on the spot I struggle to come up with just the right thing.  The truth is my heart is so very filled with gratitude.  Where do I begin?

I’m Thankful most of all for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Without His sacrifice on the cross, I would have no hope or future.  My life here on this earth would be empty and meaningless. He took the punishment for my sins and the sins of the whole world…. that really belonged to me. I have broken all of his commandments and have nothing to offer Him that can contribute anything to my salvation and hope of heaven.   The hymn “Just as I am” says it all for me.  Just as I am without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me.  And that thou biddest me come to thee O lamb of God I come….I come. If I own nothing else in this world except the eternal life He has given me, I am overwhelmed and filled with awe and gratitude.  There are no words that I can offer him that can adequately express my JOY!  To God be Glory, To God be the Glory, To God be the Glory for the things he has done.

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