Learning from Our Founders

At our Bible study on Tuesday evenings we will begin studying a book entitled America's Godly Heritage by author David Barton. If you are interested in learning more about our founders and the nation's founding check out the website wallbuilders.com. They have lots of resources and materials. One of the narratives that has gotten lost in the contemporary world is the faith of our founders. Typically we hear about how the founders were mostly deitists and agnostics. But in truth many of the founders were true believers and clearly demonstrate faith in Jesus Christ. The revisionist history nearly cuts out the Christian principles underlying the American Revolution and the founding of the nation.

The Declaration of Independence is one such document that lately has been misquoted. When President Obama refers to our unalianable rights he fails to include the phrase "endowed by our Creator." Why is that? Does he not know the document? Or is a matter of systematic removal from God concerning the founding of nation that occurred? I believe our president has been influenced by what he has learned and now believes regarding our founding. The faith of our founders is no longer emphasized in our institutions of public learning. But that reality does not represent reality. The truth is the founders were extremely religious and spiritually minded men. Several of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were ministers. Prayer was very much apart of their meetings before, during and after the Revolution.

I am reading a book entitled Sacred Fire. The authors dispell the myth that George Washington was deist. Their case is based upon 15 years of scholarly research. It reads like an encyclopedia with a narrative twist. Their quotes originate from Washington's writings, what his contemporaries wrote about him along with numerous footnotes relevant to the point that detail that our first president was "a Christian in the traditon of the 18th century Anglican Church." But many Americans have been taught to believe otherwise. Their seminal work is a must read for anyone serious about learning the facts and therefore the truth of George Washington's faith.

Why is this important? One reason is that this secluar whitewash of our founding has led to the many of the problems, societal ills and moral decay we witness in our great nation. We simply must restore the principles, values and moral framework that enabled our founders to form a nation that has reached greatness due to divine Providence. The general principles of the Christian Faith were etched into the foundation of this great nation. The more we restore the intentions of our founders and practice those general principles the sooner our nation will heal. "Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34)

Fantasy Football

It started! Fantasy Football has descended upon the fruited plain. My team is 1 - 1. The fun of F.F. is that you never really know for sure what a player is going to do. I didn't start one running back and the guy in front of him got hurt. So my player (the backup) ended up with 35 points! Since I had him on the bench those pts. didn't matter. But that was ok because I won anyway! Go figure! One of my starters broke his leg. Reggie Bush is out for at least six weeks. Now what to do? The wheels begin to turn. Strategy is a big part of F.F. And that is also part of the fun. Do I put Bush on the PUP list for a minimum of 6 weeks? Or do I keep him on the short-term IR? I will likely go with the former alternative. That way if another player gets hurt I can place him on the IR and still go pick another player.

Also, when I listen to the "experts" most of the time they are wrong! I even watch the guys on ESPN before the game on Sunday. The reality is F.F. is like the stock market. Past performance is no guarantee for future results. Just because a player has one good week does not mean he will the next week. Now there players who are consistent. But even the stars have bad days. Ever heard of Bret Favre? The experts said Marion Manningham should not start but I started him anyway. He had another good game. But Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks are supposed to be the go-to players. But football is unpredictable! Again, that is what is fun and frustrating at the same time. Who know how things will turn out? But one thing is certain. The unpredictability of F.F. is a given. So for any of the owners from the league who read my blog stay the course. It will be fun. There will be good days and bad ones. You will guess right and wrong. Good luck and enjoy the season!

GRANDSONS

Well its been a week since we have seen our grandsons. And they are grand! It is hard to describe what it feels like to be a gradnparent and watch these little guys grow up! They are so wonderful and funny too! The last time I saw them was back in June. If my math is correct it was about two and half months. My oh my how they changed! I could not believe how much they had grown in that period of time. I must admit I wish we had spent a little more time with them. But they are so friendly. They were not strange to us whatsoever. Hudson loves to do this jumping thing. Dean smiles a lot and laughs. They both sit up really well. They both will soon be crawling. Dean enjoys hugging too. Hudson has four teeth now. It is such a blessing to be apart of their lives. We stare at their pictures on the blog every day. It is a daily routine. It is hard to imagine life before they were born. I was talking with my sister Syd about how great it is to have grandchildren. I hope I never lose that feeling and perspective. Someone at services said to me yesterday that if we could we would have the grandchildren first! I laughed. Our children are a blessing. And so are the grandchildren. May their tribe increase!
I found the perfect Christmas presents for the guys! All I am going to say is that it has to do with the world of sports! But it was one of those items that caught my attention. Their dad has seen a picture of the idea. Who knows maybe I will change my mind between now and then. To Hudson and Dean, have a great week little men!

Love,

Pap Confer

Value Your Friends

Once again life has reminded of an important lesson. Value your friends because of what they bring to our lives. Proverbs 17:17 affirms, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Friendship is one of those heavenly gifts that God grants us to make our lives brighter and better. Most of us can bear about any kind of challenge or difficulty if we know there is someone who loves and cares for us. Friends that are really friends remains with us through the roller coaster of life. Whether we are up or down they continue to be there for us. Friends are able to weep with us while we experience grief. Friends also possess the capacity to rejoice with us when we celebrate those highs that visit us. They are our friends regardless of what is happening in our lives. Proverbs truly captures the essence of friendship.

A friend of mine is here in Indiana this week to teach during our Family Week/VBS. I have known Gary Dodd since our days at then OVC, now OVU. (It will always be OVC to me!) I always have fun with Gary. There are those conversations that turn serious from time to time. But one thing for sure is that I am free to be me. Gary is funny and always makes a person feel valued and appreciated. On occasion he will do something in public I don't quite expect but it usually brings laughter to my day. Like one day we were entering the library at Freed Hardeman University. I was following him. He turns to a girl behind the desk and blurts out, "See that guy he is in love with you!" My face turned red but I trudged along after Gary anyway. So you now know what I mean about the unexpected.

Friends are a blessing. Gary has truly been one to me. And I thank the Lord for friends. They keep us going when we confront struggle and help us to appreciate God's work in the world. So remember to value your friends.

My Dad A Funny Man

Over the weekend I was visiting with my family. My sister Cheryl and I were recalling how funny our late father was. He didn't even realize how funny he was! One time that stuck in our memories stems from dad getting a new set of dentures. He had never worn them before so it was a challenge to keep them in his mouth. We asked him what he had been able to eat. He said with a muffled reply, "I ate won bweakfest!" We just laughed and laughed about him. Dad was funny without trying to be. It is interesting what stays in your memory. We also talked about how he accidentally pulled down the pants of Henry Hinton simply by tugging on the bottoms of them. My sister Syd was appalled. "DAD!" she was heard to exclaim at the moment of the tumbling trousers. From then on Henry wore suspenders! It always brings a smile to my face when I imagine poor old Henry standing on the steps of the Howard Bank with the jeans piled at his ankles. Dad had a way with people!

Dad could also laugh at himself. He never took himself too seriously. I really appreciate the way he could see the humorous side of life. My brother Andy related how one time while driving his dentures popped out of his mouth. He just laughed! People would play tricks on him and he took it well. One of the things I remember about my dad was that he enjoyed life and people. His sense of humor was passed on to us. While dad could work very, very hard he also knew that to laugh and enjoy making others laugh was important. Many of my relatives, aunts, uncles, cousins, have shared stories about my dad that indeed hit the funny bone. I so appreciate that they have told me these goofy periods in his life. Those kinds of things make the difficult days much more bearable. They have the knack of making one feel better. I still miss my dad! But those funny stories and silly experiences always put a song in my heart. For this I am grateful. For any father reading this I hope you have a wonderful Father's Day!

The Wonders of Technology

Last week our grandson, Dean had open heart surgery. He is a twin. He and Hudson have stolen our hearts. One of the lessons that I re-learned is that we live in a time where the wonders of technology continue to impress. Dean had a hole in his heart. The surgeon, Dr. Christian repaired the hole by placing a mesh-like substance over it. The effects were immediate. His breathing was better. Our son said he noticed his chest felt different. While the first 24 hours were extremely difficult for the little guy and his parents, especially for his mom, Audrey he made daily progress. By Monday the next week he was ready to go home! Simply amazing!

How does this happen? The medical profession through research and development has reached new heights in providing positive results for all ages. Not only was I impressed with the surgeon and her team but also the care Dean received post-surgery. The nurses, residents and doctors did their best to offer quality care for him. And for this I am very, very grateful! Dean certainly experienced an unprecedented amount of pain. But the good news is he will have no memory of the event!

God is good! I do believe the Lord protected and blessed little Dean through the process. We were certainly anxious on the day of his surgery. But also felt protected due to all of the prayers and concern that so many expressed to the Confer family. It is such a comforting thought to know others are lifting up your family in prayer. The Word of God speaks to the peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:6-7) I for one certainly recognized His peace through this trying process. We are grateful God uses people to help and bless the lives of others. The wonders of technology is not an accident. For this I am thankful!

God's Presence

Psalm 46 remains one of my favorites. In 46:10 the text reads, "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The psalmist reminds us that God is ever-present. The first verse launches the idea. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." God is immediately present. He is not asleep or inattentative to our needs. God is always with us. Our responsibility is to trust Him and call upon His Presence to protect and strengthen. God often jogs our memories through the simple things that He is present. A full moon, a rainbow, a star-lit night, the transformation of the earth during spring, the beauty of a child's smile, the gift of laughter along with numerous "little things" together touch our souls that indeed God is with us.

Even though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea we are not alone. (46:2) God is present when the economy languishes. The Lord is with us when we see changes in our republic that many view as troubling. No matter the circumstances of our personal lives the Lord is constant. His power strengthens and empowers. (Ephesians 3:20-21) As the psalmist speaks of the city of God he writes, "God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns." Regardless of the swirling winds and threatening storms we face God's Presence and power are at work in our lives. At times we may not even be aware of how God moves in mysterious ways in order to accomplish His purposes. The Lord God is also described in the psalm as "our fortress." Think about a fortress for a moment and you will note a place of protection and security. If we trust in God's presence and power will fend off the enemies attempts to distract and discourage. God does leave us defenseless. What a wonderful sentiment that God embraces us and keeps evil from overwhelming our lives. For this will we are grateful!