A month for worship

I have been getting good responses from my latest column in the Cherokeean Herald, so I thought I'd share it with you.

FROM THE TOP

By LELAND ACKER

Well, the turkey is in the fridge, other turkeys remain on Capitol hill and the football games have been played. Thanksgiving was well celebrated in my household and I pray the same was true for you.

The passing of Thanksgiving used to mark the beginning of the Christmas season. Radio stations dropped their regular playlists to include Christmas music. Lighting ceremonies were prominent in local cities and communities. Christmas parades filled our main streets and people got into the spirit of the season.

The day after Thanksgiving goes mostly unnoticed these days due to the fact that Christmas decor and merchandise finds the store shelf before Halloween. The only indication of a Christmas season kickoff the day after Thanksgiving now is the mad rush at the malls at 6 a.m.

Such a shift in our culture does not bother me so much, as long as the reason for the season continues to be observed. If retailers and commercial entities want to extend the Christmas season to three months (October, November and December), I have no objection. My only concern is that we remember why we celebrate Christmas.

Therefore, by the power that has not really been vested in me, I declare Nov. 23-Dec. 31 a national month of worship. We should worship God for the great things He has done. He founded this nation. Think about it. The pilgrims on the Mayflower should not have survived that voyage (statistically speaking). The Continental Army should not have been able to defeat the all-powerful British army to win America's independence, then do it again in the War of 1812.

The odds of these events taking place are very remote, yet our forefathers emerged victorious, and knew they had divine intervention to make it possible. (If you disagree, read President George Washington's Proclamation of Thanksgiving.) God raises up nations to accomplish His will and He puts nations down. We have been blessed to be a nation that He raised up... and it wasn't because we were so worthy either. It was by His grace and for His purpose.

In addition to prospering our nation, He kept His promises of salvation by sending His only begotten Son into the world so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

The theme of this column for the coming weeks will center around why we should designate this month for worship.

Merry Christmas everyone.