Conference Chaplain Page
Great Lakes Reverend Richard Bartley
Greetings,
I would like to give a little background information for those who have not met me yet. I am a 10-year Navy veteran where I spent 4 years on Shore Patrol while attached to the USS F.D.R. (CVA - 42) and I am a retired Cleveland Public School teacher. In 1996, I became one of the founding fathers of the Christian Motorcyclists Association Cleveland Chapter. I received my Masters Degree in Ministry from Grace Seminary in the summer of 2000 and with my wife Reida, planted an inner city church and mission center in Cleveland Ohio (http://www.villagegrace.org). I began riding with the Blue Knights in 2001 and became the Chaplain of Ohio XII in 2002.
I hope to have open communication with everyone and I will try to give an inspirational message every few months. Feel free to e-mail me at richbartley@adelphia.net with any prayer requests.
Independence Day celebrates the birthday of the United States of America.
Founded July 4th 1776, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America is celebrating its 232nd birthday this year (2008)
The 4th of July and is a time for the Red White and Blue. A time for Picnics, Parades and Marching Bands. A time for Beaches, BBQs and "Bombs Bursting in Air."
It was a little over two hundred years ago that the United States was born. A nation based on the ideals of liberty, responsibility, Godliness, and the freedom to become what God intended us to become was a new and revolutionary idea. The celebration of our nation's birthday is really a celebration of freedom. We celebrate the precious gift of freedom we have because of the price others paid. You see, we must remember that freedom isn't free. Freedom is very expensive. It has cost some people everything, including their lives. Freedom isn't free, and it is very precious and valuable.
The ideal of freedom is an ideal that our founding father's believed valuable enough to risk everything on. They risked their fortunes, their families, their reputations, and their honor. They risked their very lives and many of them paid for our freedom with their blood and the blood of their children.
All through our history our leaders have continued to have pride in the principles that our country were founded upon. There are a growing number of Christians who think that believers should not be involved in government and politics. There are several reasons for this attitude. Part of the problem with the world today is that some Christians have given up hope. They say, "it's too late for America", we're past the point of no return all that remains is God's judgment on us as a nation.
Well, I see their point, we are moving swiftly to judgment if we don't repent and come back to God but (you know) I look at my grandchildren, and I say, I will not give up on America for them! There IS hope, if (and that's a big if), IF we will do what the Bible says:
II Chron. 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
A friend and I had a discussion a while ago about why we should pray for the government he did not agree with me. So I did some research and I found out that most Americans believe the following "I see politics as dirty. all politicians are crooks. my citizenship is in heaven. when we vote we just vote for the lesser of two evils"
These people are so tired of scandals, and so tired of the political news section of the paper looking like a tabloid, that they've lost their heart to be involved at all. Some Christians have been intimidated and they've heard the ACLU talk Soooo much about the separation of church and state-that they've actually started to believe in it.
In case you don't know, that phrase never appears in the Constitution! (however it is found in Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto!) It was actually taken to heart in the U.S. from a letter that the principle writer of the Constitution and Third President - Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association assuring them that he would keep the Government out of the Church (NOT the Church out of the Government). He was saying, "Never again will there be a government sponsored church like you had back in England, where everyone is forced to attend and support!"
Have we lost these Christian Ideals in our Government? Have our leaders lost these ideals? Not completely - But I believe that Christian leaders are being pushed out by those people who just want to feel good and who do not want to hurt other peoples feelings.
Today we can worship in security and comfort, because thousands of young men have given their lives and shed their blood on foreign soil. They died in forsaken places with names not remembered so that we could experience the joy and responsibility of freedom. In a letter dated November 13, 1787, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants" No, freedom is not free. The price is always paid in blood.
The blood spilled on battlefields called Concord and Charleston and York Town was not the first time blood was spilled for freedom. No, 2,000 years ago a young man's blood spilled upon the ground so that we could all experience freedom. Jesus came in order to bring us freedom from a host of human maladies. As Christians, we believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on a cross for our sins.
Have you been dragging your past around? You know what I mean. You've done things in the past that have hurt others and have hurt you. You've failed miserably in the past. You've failed at marriage. You've failed at parenting. You've failed financially because of decisions that you made. You've failed at religion - it's just too hard to keep all those rules. You've failed and failed and failed and the guilt of your failures and poor choices is dragging around behind you, keeping you from soaring.
Because of the work Jesus did in winning our freedom, we don't have to carry our guilt around with you. You can release it and be free. Wouldn't it be nice to know that you don't have to drag your past around with you? Wouldn't forgiveness be a breath of fresh air?
So as you celebrate the freedom that came with our independence - remember to celebrate the freedom from sin and guilt that God gave you by the sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ. As you ride this summer remember that God is with you. Ride safe, Ride defensively and "Ride with Pride!" See you in Peoria!
GLRC Chaplain - Ohio XII
Ride With Pride...
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