Then in Luke 6:47-49, the Lord Jesus Christ speaks of two men who set out to build two houses.  the first man digs deep and lays his foundation upon a rock, but the second man carelessly builds his house upon the earth, without digging and laying a sure foundation.  Then when the storm came, the first house stood strong,    However, the second house immediately fell, and the ruin of that house was great.

The forefathers of our nation were well aware of this profound truth.  These men lived in at time when people still had RESPECT for good moral standards and godly living.  They weren't all Christians, but there was still a reverence for God and the Bible.  This was a time when Americans had a FEAR OF GOD before their eyes, and sin was kept down to a minimum - or at least was hidden more than today.

If a person were to look closely at world history, one would see that those foundations had been established in many places - of course none as strong as they were in America (Pilgrims, etc.), but there is a path that the Holy Spirit took that can be traced back to the time when the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  II Peter 1:21.

We see that the Holy Spirit has given the world it's opportunities.  In fact, America has had it's own opportunities.  But we see today, if one keeps their eyes in the Holy Scriptures, that our foundations have been destroyed, as well as the rest of the worlds.  American History shows that we once had solid foundations in many areas - but a present and truthful view today would show that all of those foundations have been destroyed.  They are not 'crumbling' - they are destroyed.

The following information was taken from a tract recently distributed at Touchet Baptist Church and written by James L. Melton.  Please visit his site for more excellent booklets.

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Joshua 1:8.

There was a time when Americans were a Bible reading people. There was a time when the common citizen believed God's word to be far more dependable than science, philosophy, and traditions of men (Col. 2:8; I Tim. 6:20). Horace Greeley said, "It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible reading people." But we have ceased to be Bible readers. Today, there is only an OUTWARD PROFESSION (If even that?) of belief in the Final Authority of Scripture. Inwardly, the average American lives as though the Bible had never been written.

Men today are ASHAMED to be associated with the Bible. Satan is using science and education to make the Bible look old fashioned and archaic in the eyes of twentieth century man. People are naturally looking for an alibi to sin; so the Devil gives them science and education to "disprove" the Bible. It seems that the American people have forgotten that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." II Tim. 3:16-17.

The problem that people are having with the Bible is that they DON'T LIKE WHAT IT SAYS. As Mark Twain once said, "Most people are bothered by those passages in scripture which they cannot understand; but as for me, I always noticed that the passages in scripture which trouble me are those which I DO understand." Friend, there's nothing wrong with God's Book. The problem is with people who want to live like the Devil and allow our most important foundation stone to be destroyed.

We must restore the foundation of Biblical authority, or our nation will soon meet a tragic end like all the rest. There isn't one nation in history who has continued as a major world power without giving the word of God preeminence. Queen Victoria said, "Tell your prince that THIS BOOK is the secret of England's greatness." How right she was. The foundation of Biblical authority must be restored, or the United States of America will cease to be the "land of the free and the home of the brave."

It was Immanuel Kant who said, "It is God's will, not merely that we should be happy, but that we should MAKE OURSELVES HAPPY. This is TRUE MORALITY." Of course, Kant was an idiot. God never said that it is His will for us to "make ourselves happy." That's a satanic philosophy, which eventually ends with, "If it feels good, then do it." Jesus Christ said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23. The "don't worry, be happy" philosophy will damn your soul to Hell.

The nation of Israel was HAPPY because God was on her side (Deut. 33:29). Solomon's servants were HAPPY because they continually stood before him to hear his God-given wisdom (I Kings 10:8). The Lord Jesus said, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." John 13:17. Happiness isn't something that God expects us to PURSUE; happiness is something that we receive while doing the will of God. Our goal should be to PLEASE GOD, not to please ourselves. Happiness is a God-given REWARD, not a human goal, because true happiness cannot be found apart from God (Psalm 144:15). A continual pursuit of happiness will drag a nation down to the lowest moral standards known to man, because men are SINNERS BY NATURE (Psalm 51:5; Rom. 3:23). If a man's goal is happiness, then his philosophy is "Whatever makes me happy is right FOR ME." If having sexual acts with a child makes him "happy," then it's "right" FOR HIM. If hacking up a dozen people with a butcher knife makes him "happy," then it's "right" FOR HIM. This "make ourselves happy" philosophy is the philosophy of every sex pervert and every dope addict in America. There MUST be a moral standard.

The Bible lays the moral standards for all men to live by, and these standards are for our own good. God expects us to look to His word to determine right from wrong. The Bible should lay the foundation of morality in America, and there was a time when it did.

There was a time when the drinking of liquor and beer was mostly associated with bars, smoking, gambling, dancing, fornication and prostitution. However, TODAY, drinking has become more "respectable" in our society. We've allowed liquor to be "dressed up, " and we attempt to justify our sins with terms like "social" or "moderate drinking." LIQUOR IS STILL THE SAME BLOODY KILLER IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN (See Prov. 20:1; 23:20-21; Isa. 5:22; Gal. 5:21). Drinking is MORALLY WRONG, and two hundred years ago the average American knew it as well as he knew his own name. What happened?

The American CONSCIENCE has been terribly defiled by newspapers, magazines, and television. Thirty years ago, modern TV programs would have been totally unacceptable to the American public, but today the American conscience has been slowly CHANGED and CONDITIONED to smile at sin.

A perfect example of this "progress" is the so-called Gay Rights Movement. Before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the sex perverts were still hid in their closets because they knew they were LIVING IN SIN AND REBELLION AGAINST GOD (Gen 13:13, 18-19; Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Deut. 23:17; Rom. 1:21-27). However, over the past thirty years, these people have come OUT of their closets to form organizations to PROMOTE their filth. Sex perversion is SIN, and the solution will never be found on NBC, ABC, or CBS. The solution is found in THE BIBLE.

God doesn't change (Malachi 3:6); so SIN IS STILL SIN. Sex is for married people (Heb. 13:4), long hair is for women (I Cor. 11:14-15), wine is for sick people (I Tim. 5:23), smoking is for people in Hell (Rev. 14:11), and rock music is for pagan idolaters (Dan. 3:5; Exodus 32). Are these "old fashioned" standards? YES! Should we adapt new standards? NO, because God didn't tell us to. God told us to "ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. . ." Jer. 6:16. It is our responsibility to live clean and moral lives in the sight of God, regardless of anyone else's opinion.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Col. 3:18-20.

"There is no synthetic replacement for a decent home life. Our high crime rate, particularly among juveniles, is directly traceable to a breakdown in moral fiber--to the disintegration of home and family life. Religion and home life are supplementary. Each strengthens the other. It is seldom that a solid and wholesome home life can be found in the absence of religious inspiration." --J. Edgar Hoover

The first family began when God created Adam and Eve. God made it clear that the man was to be the authority in the home (Genesis 3:16). Many these days are blaming the collapse of the American family on the women's movement, but it's actually man's fault. There would be no women's movement if the American man would bear rule in his own house. Esther 1:22. The breakdown in the family unit is not the fault of rebellious teenagers. It's the fault of irresponsible parents, usually fathers, who have failed to train up a child in the way he should go. Proverbs 22:6. By nature, women and children look to the man for authority (I Cor. 11:3), and when the man neglects to properly exercise his authority, the family will become rebellious.

It's true that some homes are destroyed by the actions of women and children, but the main trouble usually lies with the man. Instead of showing his thanks to God for his wife and children by raising up a strong Christian family and spending lots of time with them, the American man has his eyes on the material things of this world. It's killing his family, and it's killing our nation by setting improper examples for the younger generation. Today's man will meet the PHYSICAL needs of his family, while neglecting to meet the SPIRITUAL needs. His home falls apart SPIRITUALLY, while he lives entirely in the physical realm.

The TV is a good example of this. When it was first invented, there were many good men who refused to bring one into their home, for they knew it would harm the close family unit. How many families do you know TODAY without a TV? You see, Satan has put on the pressure for so long that we have let down our guard, and the enemy has overcome us.

Walk into your "living room" and look around. Notice how the chairs and the sofa are all FACING THE TV! It has become A GOD in the American home. People spend HOURS each day with TV, while the Bible lies sadly untouched on a nearby table. Friend, our country wasn't built this way, and it can't survive this way. God will NOT stand for it.

In 1920, there was one divorce for every seven marriages in America; in 1940, there was one divorce for every six marriages; in 1960, there was one divorce for every four marriages; in 1980, the figure reached one out of two. Today (1994), TWO OUT OF THREE MARRIAGES ARE ENDING IN DIVORCE! No nation in history has ever survived under such conditions.

The rock music industry is destroying the minds of our youth, while parents "innocently" stand aside, refusing to do anything about it. Parents, WILD AND CRAZY MUSIC WILL PRODUCE WILD AND CRAZY PEOPLE! Just look around! The American parents have become irresponsible and careless CHILD ABUSERS of the worst kind--SPIRITUAL abusers. Dad, are your children going to Heaven or Hell? What are you doing about it? Do you even care?

"I am much afraid that the universities will prove to be the gates of Hell, unless they diligently labour to explain the Holy Scriptures and engrave them upon the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution where men are not unceasingly occupied with the word of God must become corrupt." --Martin Luther

The first public school in America was founded by the Puritans of Boston in 1647. The word of God was placed at the center of the curriculum, because they said it is ". . . . one chief project of that old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures."

Eighty-eight of the first one hundred colleges in America were organized to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. John Witherspoon, first President of Princeton University, said, "Cursed be all learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ." In 1754, King's College (now Columbia) advertised that "The Chief thing that is aimed at in this college is to teach and engage children to know God in Jesus Christ." Harvard had a set of Rules and Precepts in 1646, which stated that "Everyone shall consider the main end of his life and study to know God and Jesus Christ which is Eternal Life." Fifty-two percent of Harvard's seventeenth century graduates became ministers.

So what has happened? They forsook the Book, and God forsook them. Their foolish heart has been darkened. As a result, the average American school today is nothing less than a humanistic jungle.

The National Education Association has actually admitted that the main goal of education today is "CHANGE." Their goal is to CHANGE your child into a Christ rejecting, Bible rejecting, humanistic clone. Academic achievement is no longer the primary goal of American education. The goals of the N.E.A. match the goals of the Humanist Manifesto II, and, as a result, today's college graduates make up one of the biggest bunch of infidels who ever lived.

A splendid example of this great departure from the truth is Darwin's Theory of Evolution, the belief that men have "evolved" upward from animals. Historically, Creation was taught in the public schools. Then Evolution was added to the curriculum. Then Creation was DROPPED, because it was said that both couldn't be true. Why didn't they drop Evolution and keep Creation? There's much more evidence to support Creation than there is to support Evolution. So how did this hellish doctrine get into our schools? WE LET IT HAPPEN. Instead of fighting in defense of the TRUTH, we stood aside and allowed the Devil to kick the Bible clear out of the schools and replace it with his own damnable doctrines. We are taking our liberties for granted, and the Devil is taking our nation to Hell.

What is the American educational system? According to George Reiseman, Professor of Economics at Pepperdine University, "This is no longer an educational system. Its character has been completely transformed, and it now clearly reveals itself to be what for many decades it has been in the process of becoming: namely an agency working for the barbarization of youth."

When President Washington took office, he refused financial compensation. It was not his desire to be President. The people of this nation wanted Washington in office because they knew from his previous wars that he was a natural leader of great faith and courage. We aren't trying to give Washington more honor than he deserves, but it is important for us to realize that MONEY and POWER were not his motives, as they are with most politicians today. The Bible says in I Timothy 6:10 that "the love of money is the root of all evil." Psalm 62:11 tells us that "power belongeth to God." It doesn't belong to man. A politician who is seeking money and/or power will drag his nation straight to Hell. A man's motive for holding a public office should be to BENEFIT HIS COUNTRY, not to benefit himself.

A good leader in government will strive to uphold the Bill of Rights, and he will do this regardless of anyone's opinion about it. He will OPPOSE minorities who are out to overthrow the constitution. He will have the guts to ignore the God-hating news media, and he will not use "good words and fair speeches" to deceive the nation (Romans 16:18). Opinion polls mean nothing to a good leader, for he'll do things that are RIGHT, not things that are popular.

We are in desperate need of good leaders today. We need some men who will fight to put the Ten Commandments back into the schools. We need some leaders who believe in religious freedom, the right to bear arms, and capital punishment. We need some leaders with COMMON SENSE and GUTS who will step in and fight to restore the foundation of good government.

Friend, perhaps you've read this message and you can see what a mess our nation is in. Perhaps this message has depressed you somewhat, and you can't see much hope for the future. We do not delight in such negative messages as this, but we must be HONEST with you and give you the facts. Up till now, the news has been mostly bad, but now we have the GOOD news. . .

In spite of what happens to the foundations of our freedom in America, there is One Foundation that the Devil can't touch! He may blind the masses from seeing the need for this Foundation, and he may do everything possible to keep you away from this Foundation, but he can never DESTROY this Foundation. Paul says in I Corinthians 3:11, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Just as the wise man built his house upon a rock, you can build your life upon Jesus Christ. Satan has raised up many false foundations to distract and deceive you, but Jesus Christ is still alive and well for those who are willing to repent of their sins and turn to Him alone for Salvation.

The Bible says, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18. You are a sinner by nature. You were born a sinner (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12). Sinners are alone in this world--without hope and without God (Eph. 2:12). "All we like sheep have gone astray. . ." Isaiah 53:6. But Jesus said, ". . . . the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10. Without Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you are "condemned already" to the
Devil's Hell (John 3:18), but God has provided a way out for you. You can escape the fires of Hell by setting your feet upon the solid Foundation-- the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you interested?

Romans 10:9 says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Jesus Christ died on Calvary's cross and PAID for your sins so YOU wouldn't have to. By placing your trust in His shed Blood as a payment for your sins, you can be born again (John 3:3) this very moment. You can have ETERNAL LIFE in Christ TODAY. Today, you can become a "son of God" by RECEIVING Jesus Christ as your Savior (John 1:12). "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13. If you really mean business with God, then pray right now in your own words and ask Jesus Christ to cleanse you from all sin in His precious Blood (Rev. 1:5). There is nothing more important in your life than your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ told Pilate ... My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.  John 18:39  A key word in that verse is the word 'now'.  It is missing in the other modern bible versions because people don't want to know that Jesus Christ is coming back to rebuild all the crumbled foundations.

We know that the Lord describes the church today as saying ... I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  Revelation 3:17

We can look to the lost & deceived as they are the poor and fatherless - to the afflicted and needy - and we can try to defend them - we can try to do justice to them - we can try to deliver them.

a)  We defend them by realizing 'for them' that they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.
b)  We can do them justice by telling them that they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.
c)  We can deliver them by telling them that Jesus Christ can take care of their wretchedness - He can take away their miserableness - He can give them riches that they can't imagine now - He can give them HIS clothes of righteousness and He can make them see!

We are to continue planting and watering.
We are to continue taking shots on goal - passing to each other - getting the rebounds after the shots.
We are to keep our eyes IN and ON the Book (which is one of the things above, amen?  Col 3:2) and not in and on things around us.  (not on things on the earth Col 3:2).

Look at these instances, for example:

Ask a catholic or an ecumenical-supportive-modern-love-based-self-professed Christian if they know these things are taught and believed by the Roman Catholic Church - the church that their own beliefs support.

For the last three years, it fell to me, as my responsibility, to scrape our blessed Lord from under the pews, stuck there with the old wads of chewing gum.  (the Fatima Crusader, Summer, 1991 pg. 21)

As the Catholic Creed of Saint Athanasius says: 'Whosoever wishes to be saved, before all good works, must hold unto the Catholic Faith, for unless a person keeps the faith, whole and entire, he will undoubtedly be lost forever.'  (the Fatima Crusader, Summer, 1991 pg 6)

One day, the Blessed Virgin Mary said, 'I will save the world with my Rosary and my Scapular'.
(the Fatima Crusader, Summer, 1991 pg 24)

If anyone deny that in the Sacrament of the Most Holy eucharist are contained truly, really and
substantially, the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.  (the Fatima Crusader, Summer, 1991 pg. 21)

If you pray the rosary every day, if you always wear the scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, she is bound to save you from Hell, because she is bound her promises.  God's Most Holy Mother will crush the Serpent's head.  (the Fatima Crusader, Summer, 1991 pp. 26, 39)

In this sheepfold of Jesus Christ, no one can enter if not under the guidance of the supreme pontiff, and men can be certain to achieve salvation only if they are united to him, since the Roman Pontiff is the Vicar of Christ and represents His Person on earth.  (Pope John XXIII - Vatican II - when being crowned at his "coronation," 1958.  The World of the Vatican, Robert Neville, harper and Row, 1962, p. 119)

There is no such thing as absolute certainty of salvation during this life.  (Knights of Columbus, This is the
Catholic Church, 1970, p. 13)

In the Mass, one recieves the very body and very blood of Jesus Christ...in an unbloody manner.
(Morrow, My Catholic Faith, p. 284ff;  John O'Brien, The Faith of Millions, p. 382;  The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Knights of Columbus, pamphlet no. 6, pp.28,29).

No grace comes from God to man except it pass through Mary's hands (Father Butterfield, Night Journey From Rome, p. 74)

...about God blessing the seventh day and sanctifying it Himself in Genesis 2:2,3 and yet never mentioning it to anyone until He mentioned to Moses in Exodus 11.  (Neh 9:13-14)

...about the sabbath being a sign (Ezekiel 20:20) and that signs are for the them, not us.  (I Cor 1:22).

...about the fact that not once does Paul ever tell any Christian to observe the Sabbath - in fact, he purposely omits it from the Commandments when he lists them in Romans 13:8,9.

...about Paul even warning Christians about letting people judge them for not observing the Sabbath (Col 2:16).

...about there never being a Biblical on Friday (6pm) to Saturday (6pm) every year - not even on every other year.  They actually follow a Catholic calendar to think that Saturday is even the 7th Day.  All 7th Day Adventists are Sabbath breakers.

...about the Biblical warning about any doctrine which ...would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  Galatians 1:7,8, which describes the beginnings of the 7th Day Adventis Church exactly!