Teachers can make a lasting impression on us. Ms. Brown was my second grade teacher at McHarg Elementary School in Radford, VA. She took time to teach us certain things that have stuck with me for many years. Every morning in her class, that I can remember, we would say the Pledge of Allegiance, sing God Bless America, My Country ‘Tis of Thee or another patriotic song and she would say a prayer before we started class! This seemed odd at times as the repetition was not so inviting. But, now I look back and remember it fondly.

     Here are the words to the Pledge of Allegiance: Read them slowly and consider what we face, not only with the subject of controlling groups within our nation; but concerning this Nation as a whole, in relation to the struggles which have been thrust upon us.

    “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

“With Liberty and Justice for all”!!! All of our legal citizens deserve the benefits of the LIBERTY and JUSTICE for which so many have fought and died. “For All” means liberty and justice for those in controlling groups- also. The unalienable rights which we have are the foundations of our liberty. When one person or group seeks to take by force or trickery or seduction the rights of others- this should concern every U. S. citizen in this free nation.

Here are the words to this song which my second grade class sang many times:

America (My Country, ‘Tis of Thee)

Text: Samuel F. Smith, 1808-1895
Music: Thesaurus Musicus
Tune: AMERICA, Meter: 664.6664

 Piano version here – http://www.hymnsite.com/midifiles/umh69701.mid

    1.                 My country,’ tis of thee,

                    sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;

                    land where my fathers died,

                    land of the pilgrims’ pride,

                    from every mountainside let freedom ring!

 2.                 My native country, thee,

                    land of the noble free, thy name I love;

                    I love thy rocks and rills,

                    thy woods and templed hills;

                    my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

 3.                 Let music swell the breeze,

                    and ring from all the trees sweet freedom’s song;

                    let mortal tongues awake;

                    let all that breathe partake;

                    let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

 4.                 Our fathers’ God, to thee,

                    author of liberty, to thee we sing;

                    long may our land be bright

                    with freedom’s holy light;

                    protect us by thy might, great God, our King.

 (source: http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh697.sht )

      For those who don’t remember it or have never heard it, take note of the first and last verses. (We must have sung them a lot, I remember them well.) My country ‘tis of Thee, sweet land of liberty… Yes, the liberties are sweet.  As we consider how religious cults or other controlling groups cut off their members from the benefits of this “sweet land of liberty…” lets us purpose to protect the freedoms we still have and work to help others in this nation and abroad, to fight for liberty and live in it.

    The second verse is such a great example for us to remember God as the “author of liberty”. “Long may our land be bright, with freedom’s holy light…” God is the author of the liberties that groups such as Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) bar their members from experiencing. Jane Whaley sees fit to construct the platform of the WOFF culture from the planks of control. She promises “holy righteous living” for those who obey. In my opinion, she errs in logic and her actions lead one to believe holy living can be forced into a man from the outside, when in reality; it grows from relationship with God from the inside.

     In Ms. Brown’s class we also sang “God Bless America”. As we pause and give place to thoughts of this great nation and the struggles we face; please pray for the leaders and officials charged with making the decisions that will help lead us out of the dark times which are upon us.

    Here is a source for the audio… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z5hD38Bs8Y&feature=related

    I like this version also:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r26_CSzk3Xw&NR=1

God Bless America

“While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that’s free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer. “

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.

   This post is preparation for the next, as we will look at the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Can groups such as WOFF rightfully use the provisions of this Amendment to justify their actions to control members?

 Bonus: Link to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65KZIqay4E&feature=related

     Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

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      (Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, the information about WOFF is from my memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. ) Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 143.