September 9, 2020

It was an ordinary morning. I took our 10-month old baby Jared to the sitters cause Sheila and I both worked. As I handed Jared over to our wonderful care taker, Joan O’Malley, she said, “Have you seen what’s going on this morning in the news?” The date was September 11th; nineteen years ago, and the rest is history.
For those of you that are old enough to remember, you might recall all the patriotism. Every other song was “God Bless the USA” or “God Bless America”, and the like. People had flags proudly stuck out of the windows of their cars, flags flying in the back of their trucks, and people everywhere were sure to show their American pride in their homes and businesses.
Fast forward to today: What’s happened? There’s anarchy everywhere. The news shows nightly looting, arson and beatings, not to mention the burning of the flags and worse yet, the Bible itself! And the news channels call it ‘peaceful protests’!
Matthew 24:12-13, speaking of the end times says, “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved”
Leading up to America’s Bicentennial back in 1976, our surrounding community performed a patriotic cantata with sound, Biblical truths; the “I Love America” Cantata, written and composed by John W. Peterson, mostly taken from God’s very own Word. Many of us either sang in it or at least heard it.
One of my favorite songs from that cantata is taken from 2 Chronicles 7:14 stating, “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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Though the attachments provided aren’t from our actual Community Choir that many of us sang in, it is the same arrangement. The other ones are songs that went over and over in my head back in 2001. Focus on the words and enjoy.
God Bless America!
Marlon Mathre