by A. A. Neale

A three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools unconstitutional.

For those not familiar with the Pledge of Allegiance, it reads thus, "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."

Members of both major political parties expressed strong disapproval of the panel's position.

I thank God for this ruling.

It seems to have focused, again, attention to what kind of people we need to be. Not only as a nation, but individually.

I don't consider the U.S. as any Christian nation privileged above the others. God is served by his people in every nation of the world. He created his church as his special nation to show his character and proclaim his might act of salvation in Jesus Christ.

But God can only be pleased when people in places of authority recognize his existence, accept his sovereignty, and pledge to adhere to those principles revealed in Scripture. And the closer a nation gets to that point, the better.

A nation under God means to acknowledge him as God and to heed his word. May it be so!

A person can be thankful to be an American. Even more, any person, regardless of nationality or residence, can thank God for his salvation in Jesus Christ.

"Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Rom. 7:25, NASB).

Thank God!

by A. A. Neale

Parents who wanted their children to have what they were deprived of often discover it growing among the toys and privileges.

Christians who help the poor sometimes see it in the scowls at the same time the hand is extended.

Friends who share the amazing gift of God's grace with their loved ones see it in the face of those who find salvation a small thing.

Ingratitude.

It comes in many shapes and forms.

• The quality of devaluing the preciousness of a gift.
• The trait of despising the love that shares freely.
• The attitude that sees privileges as rights,.
• The selfishness never content with what it has.
• The hardness that nothing is ever good enough for me.

And wherever it raises its head in my life, it deserves a solid stomp. For it's a last-days sin. Though there's nothing in the law books about it, God's list of horrendous crimes against divinity includes it.

"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For me will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, UNGRATEFUL, unholy, unloving, irreconciliable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these" (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NASV).

The ingrate says, "Can't you do better than that? I deserve that and much more! Why did you take so long? I want something different."

Or he yawns, "Yeah, okay. Set it right over there, with the other trash."

The ingrates pockets are full, and his heart is empty.

"Generous God of heaven, I don't deserve a single thing. But you keep on giving and blessing. Let my lips speak praise and thanksgiving. Let my eyes see your goodness. Let my heart be touched at every turn by your grace. I know Jesus is the greatest, most wonderful gift of all. Amen."

by A. A. Neale

I tried the dictionary and came away unsatisfied. It threw thankful and grateful back and forth between entries.

I consulted the Bible research tools, and they did better. But their definitions were dry and lifeless.

Then I found the perfect definition.

"Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan" (Luke 17:15-16, NASB).

Perhaps I may do this definition no violence by taking it in parts.

First, the lone leper saw that he had been healed. Being thankful means noticing that something good has happened. Something very good.

Second, he turned back. Sure, he was off to see the temple priest to be declared clean, but some things were more important than getting reintegrated back into society. Like appearing before one's Benefactor.

Third, he glorified God. With a loud voice. Now, I'm the silent type. But I'm trying to get loud. Gratitude amplifies the voice with joyful singing and heart-felt praise.

Fourth, he fell on his face before Jesus. The dusty feet of this traveling Teacher must have been the most glorious sight in the world to this man.

Fifth, he knew who he was, a Samaritan. He knew he didn't deserve his cure. Perhaps the other nine, Jews all, thought they had it coming as God's chosen people. This man understood that he had just been blessed for no earthly reason. And that took him to see a heavenly motive.

There you have it. The best definition of gratitude I could find.

Now to just live it.

by A. A. Neale

Surrounded by immorality, a Christian fights an uphill battle to remain pure. But that is not his greatest challenge.

In a world awash in words and alternative philosophies, a Christian struggles to get the divine Word out. But that is not his greatest challenge.

In the rush of daily events, a Christian vigorously defends his time alone with the Lord. But even that is not his greatest challenge.

This is an opinion, and you are more than welcome to differ with me, but I think I have good evidence (in my own life) to back it up.

The Christian's greatest challenge is to live each day with a prayer of gratitude on his lips and with an attitude of thanksgiving among his fellow creatures.

The world's biggest problem is the gripe. Complaining is not just the fashion, the rage, the in-thing to do. It is the way of the world.

The moment you take up a worldly gripe, you lose gratitude. Let the miserly complaint find lodging in your heart, only to discover the gladness of thankfulness has fled to higher ground.

For lack of gratitude, almost the entire nation of Israel fell in the desert.

For lack of gratitude, nine lepers left Jesus marvelling before a single Samaritan.

For lack of gratitude, Esau sold out his birthright for a quick meal.

Thankful means I know the price paid for my soul. Thankful means I recognize that every good and perfect give comes from the Father of lights. Thankful means I understand that even the suffering I endure has its benefits. Thankful means I live in the embrace of a God who continually thinks of my well-being.

Blessed Lord of heaven and earth, you and you alone deserve all praise and honor and glory. Thank you for your love, your giving, your blessing, your presence. Thank you above all for your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." (Col. 3:15-17, NASB).