"The most serious charge against America is not that it is an oppressive society, or one that denies freedom and opportunity to minorities: it is the charge that America is an immoral society."

Dinesh D'Souza (conservative political commentator, author, filmmaker)

"I conceive we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world that the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and the people willingly bow to the scepter of Him who is the Prince of Peace."

Samuel Adams, Governor of Massachusetts, March 20th, 1797 (1722-1803; American statesman, political philosopher, & a Founding Father of the United States)

"Founding Father George Mason, while he was a Virginia delegate at the Constitutional Convention, said, 'As nations cannot be rewarded or punished in the next world, they must be in this. By an inevitable chain of causes and effects, Providence punishes national sins by national calamities.'"

"'Thomas Jefferson asked, 'Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift from God?'"

Missionary Johnny Esposito in his book, 'America at War'

"Menaced by collectivist trends, we must seek revival of our strength in the spiritual foundations which are the bedrock of our Republic. Democracy is the outgrowth of the religious conviction of the sacredness of every human life. O n the religious side, its highest embodiment is the Bible; on the political side, the Constitution."

"The whole inspiration of our civilization springs for the teachings of Christ and the lessons of the prophets. To read the Bible for these fundamentals is a necessity of life."

President Herbert Hoover (1874-1964)

"The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His apostles. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free Constitutions of Government."

"All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts found in the Bible."

Noah Webster (1758-1843; American lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English-language spelling reformer, political writer, editor, & author)

"The spirit that operates in the children of disobedience hates the Spirit of Jesus Christ their Creator. Some of their fashions are specifically adapted to publicly displayed their moral corruptions as brute beasts (Jude:10). More obvious is the passion evident among many to publicly display their own nakedness, which is to their shame (Exodus 32:25). It's as if the spirit in them seeks reverse sanctification: that is, Satan wants those under the control of his spirit to be peculiarly unChristian. It's as if they purposely set themselves apart from any identification with holiness, purity, or godliness. Indeed, the spirit that operates in them moves them to develop fashions that offend the sensibilities of our holy God."

- Pastor Jerry Scheidbach, Lighthouse Baptist Church of Santa Maria, California, in his book 'The New Cart Church: Doing the Right Thing the Wrong Way'

Numbers 13:2 says, “Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.”

Canaan was a land that flowed with milk and honey (v. 27); a land of blessing, peace, and prosperity (Ex. 6:8). God told Moses that He had already given the title deed of Canaan to the people of Israel. They were commanded to “go in and possess the land” (Deut. 1:8)! It was already determined by God, in His perfect will, that they march into Canaan and claim what He had already provided for them (Gen. 17:8).

As God’s children, He did not save us just to walk around in a desert of misery and spiritual defeat (Rom. 3:10-18). He saved us so that we might enjoy victory and blessings in Him (Rom. 8:37)! Just as the people of Israel were brought out of bondage from the land of Egypt (Ex. 20:2), God set us free from the bondage of sin (John 8:36) to give us a new and abundant life in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 10:10).

Sadly, many Christians never reach that place of victory. Instead, they live with much anxiety and often below God's standard for their lives. Many never reach their Canaan because they are constantly in doubt and fearful over the condition of their soul (1st John 3:6-9): they secretly battle some recurring sins in their lives (Rom. 7:15-20). Some spend most of their time worrying about every little thing in life (Phil. 4:6-7). Folks, this is not God’s plan for us!

Realize that He has already made a way for you to be victorious over the sins you face (1st Cor. 10:13). Trust Him in what He can do for your life (1st Pet. 5:7). Realize that God, according to His Word, wants you to have a victorious Christian life (1st Cor. 15:57). Claim His precious promises as you face the battles of life!

- Pastor Melito Barrera (Berean Bible Baptist Church of Chula Vista, California)