Do you remember that when our U.S. founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, they pledged “our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor”?
Do you remember that John Adams said that the price of liberty was “a great expense of blood,” and that 25,000 Americans died to purchase the United States of America for you?
Ask yourself, what are you willing to do (which will not require the shedding of blood) to recover the Constitution they gave you, and to publicly represent the moral standards God gave you?
“The object is great which we have in view, and we must expect a great expense of blood to obtain it. But we should always remember, that a free constitution of civil government cannot be purchased at too dear a rate, as there is nothing, on this side [of] the new Jerusalem, of equal importance to mankind.” John Adams, 2nd U.S. President, on July 1, 1776
July 3, 1776 letters from John Adams to his wife, Abigail Adams: “The furnace of affliction produces refinement, in states as well as individuals. And the new governments we are assuming, in every part, will require a purification from our vices and an augmentation of our virtues or they will be no blessings. The people will have unbounded power. And the people are extremely addicted to corruption and venality, as well as the great.” Source
“It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.” Source
The biggest pro-family victories in California so far this month are the successful campaigns to put “In God We Trust” on police vehicles in Kern County, just north of Los Angeles County.
Enjoy these photos from my two-day tour to battle alongside these three pastors who spearheaded their city campaigns and won great victories. I highly commend them for being outstanding examples of “standing your ground and not backing down.”
Godly pastors: Justin Medlock of
Shafter, David Vivas of Delano, Angelo Frazier of Bakersfield, and myself, on
June 4, after we testified to the Shafter City Council.
Bakersfield’s ‘In God We Trust’ leader: Pastor Angelo Frazier, doing a TV interview, on May 22, the day he proposed adding our national motto to police and fire vehicles.
Encouraging Christians to put their light on a stand: Here’s Pastor Angelo Frazier with a Christian man prior to the June 5 Bakersfield City Council meeting. He encouraged this man to speak, which he eventually did in front of the council, audience, and media.
Public perseverance: Both Christians and atheists at the June 5 Bakersfield City Council meeting. You can see Pastor Frazier and me in the first row. After 2 hours of testimony, the council voted 4 to 2 (Republicans for, Democrats against) to place “In God We Trust” on police and fire vehicles. The news quickly spread nationwide.
Even liberal media get to see ‘In God We Trust’: Bakersfield TV news people were waiting to interview Pastor Frazier after our great moral victory inside City Hall.
Basking in victory: Caring enough to show up for this winnable battle, these Bakersfield Christians celebrate with Pastor Frazier, along with me and Pastor Medlock from Shafter.
Glorying God in Shafter, California: On June 4, Pastor Justin Medlock testified, sharing how a Christian cop helped him repent from drug use and clean up his life with the help of Jesus Christ’s Holy Spirit. He knows that “In God We Trust” on police cars will do good!
Christians are coming out of the closet: Here’s Pastor Medlock with two brothers who own a design and print shop, who’ve offered to pay for the “In God We Trust” decals in both Delano and Shafter, overcoming an atheist objection of taxpayer expense.
He started it all: Pastor David Vivas used his influence with his city’s mayor to propose that Delano be the first California city to place “In God We Trust” on police vehicles. Like the spark of the American Revolution, Pastor Vivas’ bold action on April 2 was a “shot heard round the world.” Pastor Vivas says his Christianity compels him to publicly shine his light.
Christian values benefit everybody: On June 5, I had the privilege of meeting with Pastor Vivas and Delano Mayor Joe Aguirre, a very strong advocate of “In God We Trust.”
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they slight a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, in Matthew 5:14-15
Why do we have crime and corruption in our society? Ultimately, it’s because of people who don’t fear their Creator and Judge. This is why most crimes happen when a perpetrator thinks no one is watching.
So rejoice that a California city has approved “In God We Trust” for police cars!
On April 2, the City of Delano, which is one of 136 California cities and counties that already have “In God We Trust” on their main buildings, voted to also display the United States of America’s national motto on the sides of police vehicles in their 53,000-population city, just inside the northern border of Kern County.
The driving force behind the council vote to honor God on police vehicles was Delano pastor David Vivas. “I’ve read where law enforcement agencies in other states have done this,” said Vivas, who teaches at World Harvest International Church. “As a patriotic American, I believe this is appropriate to have these decals placed on police vehicles.”
The movement to place “In God We Trust” on government buildings began in 2001 with Jacquie Sullivan, a Bakersfield, California city councilwoman. In 2002, the Bakersfield City Council voted to require all government buildings to display “In God We Trust” somewhere on each building. Then, with Jacquie’s vision, the “In God We Trust” movement “took off.”
“There are 136 cities and counties in California that are displaying ‘In God We Trust’ in their council chambers,” Sullivan said. Her website lists 683 local governments nationwide that unashamedly and prominently display our national motto honoring God.
Stop and think of the advantages of honoring God on police vehicles. Morality is doing what’s right in God’s sight despite opposition or when you know no one’s looking. But God’s always watching, right? But what’s going to sensitize people to remember this spiritual fact? See how “In God We Trust” on police cars is a stellar anti-crime and anti-corruption reminder for both gangs and cops?
If you agree that belief in, fear of, and love for God is the ultimate crime-prevention program, please urge your city councilmembers to vote to display “In God We Trust” in city council chambers (it’s easy: just email them and attach Jacquie Sullivan’s website). If “In God We Trust” is already being displayed, ask that it also go on police vehicles, like in Delano.This is as constitutional as our paper money and coins.
“Delano made history and this will set precedence for other law enforcement agencies in California who may have been thinking of doing this,” Vivas said. “Not everyone believes in God, but we can all be patriotic as Americans in being supportive of our national motto.”
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” Revelation 14:6-7
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