Save America Ministries

Guest (Male): This is Viewpoint with attorney and author Chuck Crismier. Viewpoint is a one-hour talk show confronting the issues of America's heart and home. And now with today's edition of Viewpoint, here is Chuck Crismier.

Chuck Crismier: Last week, the entire Bible was read across America from our nation's capital. Today is the National Day of Prayer. And next week, Donald Trump, our president, has declared a National Sabbath. What's going on? Today on this National Day of Prayer, we want to take a look at that, and I'm glad that you've joined us. It's conversation as always with ever-increasing conviction, talk that transforms.

The National Day of Prayer is something that's been around since 1952 when I was seven years old. The National Day of Prayer was declared by President Truman. And it has been remembered, celebrated, activated upon across our country since 1952. Then it was declared, I believe it was in 1988, to always be on the first Thursday of May. This is the first Thursday of May today, and today on Viewpoint, we talk about our National Day of Prayer.

Praying. We ought always to pray and not to faint. We've got a lot of fainting going on across the country. We've got a lot of prideful declarations going on across the country. We have a lot of fretting going on across the country, and the Bible says we should not fret. Fret not because of evildoers. So today on Viewpoint, we talk about this National Day of Prayer.

What is the purpose of the National Day of Prayer? Is it just a celebration? Is it a call to repentance? Is it just a "God and country" kind of experience to make us feel more religious? What is the purpose of the National Day of Prayer, and should we engage in it? And if so, does God care? Does God answer our prayers? Does prayer really matter?

All of that here on the program today, and I'm so glad that you've joined us. We pray. We ought to pray and not to faint. We ought to pray daily. We ought to pray virtually always in a state of a mind and heart of prayer. We ought to pray without ceasing, the Bible says. There's an attitude of prayer. There's an attitude of our minds and our hearts. If we're truly following the Lord, that we should always be in an attitude of prayer, not with our eyes closed. It's an attitude of prayer. It's that we're always in communicating with the Lord, always in communicating with God.

Do you? Is that your life? Maybe that's part of our problem because maybe in America today, we just don't pray. And that's why we faint more. Maybe we're actually fainting more because we pray less. Are we a pray-less people? If we're praying constantly in a constant attitude of prayer in line with the word, will, and ways of the Lord, then surely he will hear our prayers. Over the past 50 years, there has been so much prayer go up across the country, not only in National Days of Prayer, but also in solemn assemblies, all kinds of prayer gatherings to the point where some spiritual leaders, Christian leaders, actually said there's so much prayer going up across America that God has to hear and respond.

Well, that's a bit of an arrogant attitude, it seems to me. The question is what kind of prayer was going up? Out of what hearts was prayer going up? What was our expectation? Do we really believe that God is in control, or do we think that we're in control and we can somehow punch some prayer buttons with God, and all of a sudden the heavenly slot machine will come ringing and blessings will be flowing out of heaven because we press the prayer button on the heavenly slot machine?

Maybe you've never heard of it that way, but that's the way some people seem to think. And so today on Viewpoint, we press through on all of those things as we focus on our National Day of Prayer. Lest you should think that I am ridiculing the National Day of Prayer, I am not. I think the National Day of Prayer is a great thing as long as its focus is on the Kingdom of God and His expectations for us as a nation. If it's anything else, then it's a ritual. It's just a ritual that makes us feel better but doesn't do anything really consequential for the land.

And so we're focusing on that here today on this 75th anniversary of the National Day of Prayer. So I welcome you aboard. It's conversation as always with ever-increasing conviction, talk that transforms. The National Day of Prayer Task Force is situated in Colorado Springs. During a long period of time, Vonette Bright, the wife of the late Dr. Bill Bright, was the chairperson of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. And then Vonette Bright ultimately turned the responsibility for that over to the wife of Dr. James Dobson, Shirley Dobson.

Shirley Dobson was the chairperson of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, certainly going back into the early 1990s. And I remember in 1993 when she called me and she knew that we were relocating from Southern California to Richmond, Virginia, and she asked if I would serve as the state or Commonwealth coordinator for the National Day of Prayer Task Force in Virginia. Which I did, starting from my office in Southern California as we were moving and then for the next four years, 1994 through 1998, served in that capacity. I very much appreciated that privilege. And so yes, indeed, prayer is a very important thing.

Do you pray daily? What do you pray for? Why do you pray? Under what authority do you pray? Do you have the "Gimme God" blues? You're just praying that God will give you what you want. Or are you praying that God will give you the heart to give him what he wants? Maybe that's part of our problem. We got the "Gimme God" blues. We want God to do for us what we want, but we're not so much concerned about what he wants. And that's maybe one of the biggest problems that we have in our country. Maybe that's the reason why we're wallowing in so many problems, moral and spiritual problems, economic problems, all kinds of problems.

So maybe indeed we do need a Sabbath. Maybe we do need a National Sabbath as Donald Trump has called for next week in May. But for now, we focus on the National Day of Prayer, this very day, today, the National Day of Prayer. This evening, there is going to be a special gathering. It's going to be a television gathering streaming from the Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol at 8:00 PM. It's going to be streamed from the website of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. It's going to be available on various television and radio networks. You might want to check it out. It should be a great event to call our hearts and our attention to the Lord. But for now, we go back to you and me.

Guest (Male): Once upon a time, children could pray and read their Bibles in school. Divorces were practically unknown, as was child abuse. In our once great America, virginity and chastity were popular virtues, and homosexuality was an abomination. So what happened in just one generation? Hi, I'm Chuck Crismier, and I urge you to join me daily on Viewpoint where we discuss the most challenging issues touching our hearts and homes. Could America's moral slide relate to the Fourth Commandment? Listen to Viewpoint on this radio station or anytime at saveus.org.

Chuck Crismier: Welcome back to Viewpoint. We're talking about, well, maybe the prayer awakening. Back in the 1990s, we were told that there was a grace awakening. I have not heard of the obedience awakening. I've not heard of the repentance awakening. In fact, I remember talking to a prayer leader years ago. It was in 1996 in a private situation in St. Louis where 4,000 people, Christian leaders, were gathered to pray for the church in America.

And I sat before this person and I said, how is it that we've had all these National Day of Prayer events and we've had all these headline focuses on 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, which are called by my name, would humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I would hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land." Great passage. I said we've had headlines about "Heal our land." And I remember preparing a big banner which I presented down at the Capitol there in Richmond, Virginia in 1993, "Heal our land." And then we had "Seek His face."

But we never had "Turn from our wicked ways." We never had a theme of repentance and still have not to this day had a theme that specifically called for repentance. Yet that's the only thing that could please God. The only thing that could please God. So what are we trying to please? What is it we're trying to promote? What is it we're trying to do with the National Day of Prayer?

Kathy Branzell, who is the leader, the president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, wrote a special piece for this day, and I want to read it to you. She says: "Almighty God, King of Glory, we confess our sins and repent of our pride that sought our own glory and comfort, allowing evil to take root instead of your fruit in our hearts, homes, culture, and country. Please forgive us. Now, with this declaration of rededication," she says, "we humble ourselves, pray and seek Your face, turning from our wicked ways, that You would heal our lives and our land.

Please purify and renew our hearts with holy attributes, affections, attitudes, and actions to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We give You glory as we repent and rededicate our lives and our nation to You. For 250 years, You have guarded and guided America in wisdom, grace, mercy, and love. And we praise and thank You for our founding fathers, for all who sought You in fervent prayer throughout history and answered Your call to defend justice and freedom, to protect and serve, preach and teach, innovate, communicate, learn, work, worship, and establish our laws. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done in our lives, our families, the church, education, business, military, government, arts, entertainment, and media as it is in heaven. We prayerfully commit to glorify God among the nations, seeking Him in all generations in Jesus' name. Amen."

Well, that's good. That's a fairly well-worded piece. And if we really meant that, if we really meant that, then we might have change. But do we really mean it? Do we really mean it? That's the question. If prayer matters, then what has to happen? What kind of prayer is it that God will hear? Will God hear all prayers? Answer: no. We know that specifically because God told Jeremiah, "Do not pray for these people." I believe he also said the same thing to Ezekiel. In fact, I know he said the same thing to Isaiah in Isaiah 59. "Do not pray. I will not hear your prayer for this people."

Now, why is that? Because he said they're not repentant, not really. They continue on in their unrighteous ways. Their hands are defiled with blood. Their mouths and tongues are muttering perverseness. I'm not going to hear their prayers. He told Jeremiah, "Don't even pray for them." So where does that leave us? That we shouldn't pray? No. The problem is not whether we pray or not. The problem is the manner, the heart and intention of our minds and our hearts when we do pray and what we pray for. That's where the problem is.

So having said that, I want to take us back to an interesting situation that occurred 250 years ago. Remember, this is our 250th anniversary. Yeah. So what happened at the Constitutional Convention there in Philadelphia? Our founding fathers deliberated day after day in the seething heat. They didn't have air conditioning in the Philadelphia Hall there. But they're in the summer trying to hammer out a Constitution that would serve the emerging nation.

And they were just beyond themselves. Really, it was nerve-wracking frustration as the delegates from the colonies sought to protect their special interests. Their tempers flared. Their passions were inflamed. The task of achieving any kind of consensus for a plan for the new government seemed absolutely doomed. Some delegates had already walked away. And at that moment of despair and seeming hopelessness—notice the words "seeming hopelessness"—Benjamin Franklin, the elder statesman, rose and addressed the President of the Convention, George Washington, declaring, "Mr. President."

Now, I want you to hear what Benjamin Franklin had to say. This is very, very important. Very important because it goes to the very existence of our government. The very existence of our government 250 years ago. So Benjamin Franklin made this statement to the President, George Washington: "In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of Lights to illuminate our understanding?

In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard and they were graciously answered. And have we forgotten this powerful friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance? I have lived, sir, a long time. And the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of men." Well, he learned a lot about that with George Whitefield, remember?

So Benjamin Franklin was not through. He went on to declare to that awesome assembly of the greatest minds in America: "If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without God's notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?" And then he declared, "We have been assured, sir, in the Sacred Writings that 'except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.'" So then this senior statesman delivered his personal conviction concerning the future of the nation. Listen very carefully.

"I firmly believe that without God's concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel. We shall be divided by our little partial local interests. Our projects will be confounded and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a byword down to future ages. I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business."

And guess what? The Assembly of 55 of America's greatest intellectuals and leaders solemnly and humbly adopted Benjamin Franklin's motion, and each session thereafter was begun with prayer for God's guidance and wisdom. And what was the effect on the Convention? It was nothing short of miraculous. The hand of Divine Providence was clearly revealed as wisdom began to prevail over wrath and consensus over confusion. The delegates began to seek principle rather than personal positions. A sense of order and direction emerged resulting in the drafting and adoption of what leaders throughout the world have acknowledged as the greatest document ever crafted by the human mind.

No Constitution of any nation in the world has endured as has that seemingly Divinely inspired document. In the words of James Madison, the principal drafter of the Constitution, he said, "Without the intervention of God, there never would have been a Constitution." So what do you think would be necessary to bring about change today? Can it happen without the intervention of God? Have we in this last generation forgotten that Divine friend upon whose power and guidance our forefathers relied? Have we allowed strident voices to convince us that our Creator should be dismissed from the halls of political debate, from the classrooms of our youth, from our decisions as a people, from our conduct as individuals?

Well, the shift from dependence upon our Maker to reliance upon ourselves has undermined the very foundations of this great American house, friends. The foundations are cracking. America is clearly slipping off its foundation and has been for the past 30-some years. Even secular observers were joining in identifying the frightening picture before us. Let me share with you where that fulcrum was taking place. The national headlines and commentaries that appeared just before the 1992 presidential election.

Guest (Male): Newsweek: "How Our American Dream Unraveled." Newsweek: "The Glooming of America." Newsweek: "We Believed that Prosperity Would Create the Good Society. We Were Wrong." Time: "The Fraying of America." Associated Press: "If America Doesn't Watch Out, It's Going to be Judged as Finished by the World." Time: "Voters are Demanding in Their Leaders the Personal Virtues They Increasingly Demand of Themselves." Newsweek: "We Unwittingly Adopted a View of Human Nature that Assumed Spiritual Needs Could Ultimately be Satisfied with Material Goods."

Chuck Crismier: Wow. It was all happening right there at the very time, the very year the Lord spoke to my heart when I was practicing law as a trial attorney in Southern California saying, "Son, you've been pleading the cause of men long enough. I want you to plead My cause in the land as a voice to the church declaring vision for the nation in America's greatest crisis hour." I said, "Yes, sir." So in 1993, just as all of this was unfolding in our country, we formed Save America Ministries to rebuild the foundations of faith and freedom as a voice to the church declaring vision for the nation.

And yesterday, we completed the 31st year on the air, an hour a day live, pleading that cause. And today begins the 32nd year. If you have not yet supported us in that regard, I hope you will seriously consider doing it. Go to the website, saveus.org, make a generous gift that way, or sign up for what we call an automated gift every month. You fix the amount and if you ever need to change it, it can be changed within a week or two. All you gotta do is give us a call. Or just send your gift to Save America Ministries, PO Box 70879, Richmond, Virginia, 23255. Do it today, don't delay.

Now, I mentioned Vonette Bright. She was the first major head of the National Day of Prayer Task Force. Her husband wrote on the front cover of my book, "Renewing the Soul of America," Dr. Bill Bright, founder of the largest Christian ministry in the world, Campus Crusade for Christ. He said, "As a country and as individuals, we stand at a crossroads to continue on the path to godlessness or to return to the way of righteousness." If you want to really get serious, really get serious about praying for our country and then becoming a doer of the word and not just a hearer only, I urge you to get a copy of the book, "Renewing the Soul of America." One person at a time, beginning with you.

38 national Christian leaders endorsed this book. Why? Because they saw this was unlike any other book that had been written or published in the last generation or two concerning our country and its troubles. It really did provide the answers, as Pat Robertson said, "if we have the courage to implement them." We'll be back.

Guest (Male): There is so much more about Chuck Crismier and Save America Ministries on our website, saveus.org. For example, under the marriage section, "God Has Marriage on His Mind." Chuck has some great resources to strengthen your marriage. First off, a fact sheet on the state of the marital union, a fact sheet on the state of ministry, marriage, and morals. saveus.org. Marriage, divorce, and remarriage. What does the Bible really teach about this? Find all of this at saveus.org. Also, "A Letter to Pastors," the Hosea Project, saveus.org. And many more resources to strengthen your marriage. It's all on Chuck's website, saveus.org. Again, you can listen to Chuck's Viewpoint broadcasts live and archived. Save America Ministries website at saveus.org.

Chuck Crismier: People across the nation are engaged in various groups, various situations, venues, to remember our National Day of Prayer. Some are gathering on the steps of courthouses. We led that in Virginia back in 1994. Governor George Allen was there to join me. Before that, we gathered in his offices around his conference table, and I led he and his entire staff, most of whom were Christians, by holding hands around that conference table and praying for the future of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Unfortunately, the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia did not respond to God's voice. And today, Virginia has become virtually California, morally and politically. I've watched it happen very, very painfully, watched it happen. I've watched it happen across our country from coast to coast, from sea to not-so-shining sea. And if we really want to do something about it, if we really want to take these things seriously, again, I urge you to get a copy of my book, "Renewing the Soul of America." $15 will put it in your hands. It's on our website, saveus.org.

It is full of hundreds and hundreds, over 500 quotations from our nation's founders and leaders. You'll be inspired, but you'll also be challenged. Not just inspired, but challenged. And in the final third of the book, it will lead you in a very, very pointed reaffirmation of what really needs to happen. What was really at the root of the reason for being for this country? Was it just a matter of providing freedom to do what we wanted to do? Or was it freedom to do what God wanted us to do? What God's will was? You see, there's a difference.

Everybody wants to talk about liberty, and everybody wants to talk about freedom. Freedom to do what? You see, we miss the point. God had a point, and that's why he gave the inspiration to form this country all the way back to 1620, 1607 in Jamestown, 1620 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and 1630, the Massachusetts Bay Colony. All of those were major spiritual precursors to what happened 250 years ago in the political birth of the country in Philadelphia Hall.

This country was never intended to be just a political institution. It was intended to be a spiritual living out of the Gospel of Jesus Christ across the seven seas and the seven continents. Maybe it should help set the stage then, if we understood those things which you will in reading this book, "Renewing the Soul of America." You will understand those things and will help guide your prayer and your own life decisions. It really will. That's why 38 national Christian leaders endorsed it. $15 will put it in your hands, "Renewing the Soul of America." One person at a time, beginning with you and with me.

On the website, saveus.org, give us a call, 1-800-SAVE-USA, or write to us at Save America Ministries, PO Box 70879, Richmond, Virginia, 23255. Writing a check, add $6 for postage and handling. I don't think you're going to be disappointed. I really don't. Okay, now we want to press on with the matter of the National Day of Prayer. Our president has given us his message. Here is his message.

Guest (Male): On National Day of Prayer, we honor America's enduring tradition of prayer, faith, and trust in Almighty God. And as we celebrate 250 glorious years of American independence, we pledge to never forget the countless blessings God has bestowed upon our people and our country. From the cradles of civilization in the ancient world to the Christian empires of medieval Europe and the miraculous founding of our own nation, the entire Western experience has been connected by a golden thread of devotion to God.

America's faith was seen most prominently during our struggle for independence when the Second Continental Congress declared a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer to seek God's providence and ask for His protection and blessing in their fight for freedom, virtue, and posterity. Just weeks later, armed with unshakable faith, the colonies declared their independence from Great Britain on July 4, 1776, and paved the way for freedom's ultimate victory five years later at Yorktown.

In the years since, this proud birthright of faith moved our nation to expand the promise of independence to the furthest reaches of our continent, preserve our union in the midst of a bloody Civil War, abolish slavery, win two World Wars, defeat the evil forces of atheistic communism, plant our flag on the moon and advance truth, beauty, and goodness in our culture every single day. Today, faith in God is resurging on American shores like never before. Throughout this historic year, we rejoice in the triumph of the American spirit and of the love and grace of Almighty God.

And just as our founders came together in prayer before declaring independence, thousands of Americans will gather on Sunday, May 17, at the National Mall to rededicate the United States as one nation under God. This National Day of Prayer, we proudly recommit to our magnificent birthright of faith. I encourage all Americans to come together today in prayer, reflecting on the many blessings God has given our nation and asking for His continued protection with ceremonies, events, and programs in their houses of worship, places of work, schools, and homes. And above all, we pledge that America will always, as it was written in Psalm 96, "tell His glory among the nations," that we will never forget God's role in creating, protecting, and sustaining the freest, strongest, most prosperous, and greatest country the world has ever known.

Chuck Crismier: Probably one of the strongest statements that I have read from a president in the past 30-some years. Maybe he didn't write it, I don't know. But he put it out under his name, and that's what matters to me. Okay, the theme of the National Day of Prayer as set by the National Day of Prayer Task Force and Kathy Branzell, the president, said that it is inspired by a passionate prayer of thanksgiving prayed by King David in 1 Chronicles 16 after bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem after 70 years of its absence among the people.

The Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God. And when the Ark of the Covenant was not there, the people felt this emptiness, this lack. So David, the King of Israel, determined to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel and to Jerusalem. And so the theme of this year of the National Day of Prayer Task Force is taken from that prayer: "Glorify God among the nations and seeking Him in all generations."

So some of you may be familiar with a business, a fast-food business out there in California that's now spread across, well, at least the western United States. And the founder of that business and his relatives were very patriotic. And he had a painting commissioned to represent George Washington praying at Valley Forge. Now, Valley Forge was the great testing ground for America during the Revolutionary War. It was the darkest hour, the darkest day of the Revolutionary War. George Washington talked about it. It was just so painful, and I talk about it in my book, "Renewing the Soul of America." It is very colorful as we lay it out there.

Well, that painting was done and hung on the wall. I think it's about 10 feet tall, 8 feet wide, a massive painting of George Washington kneeling at Valley Forge. When I found out about that and we were forming Save America Ministries, I contacted, made the contact necessary to talk to the person that had control of that painting. And I said, what's the possibility of us duplicating that painting in a poster form that could be provided to the various citizens of our country? And they said, "Okay, good."

And so we had, I don't know how many we had printed up, 500, a thousand, I don't remember how many. And we have that hanging on our gallery wall here at Save America Ministries. George Washington praying at Valley Forge. It meant a lot to me. There's another famous painting of George Washington at Valley Forge, a much more famous painting. And it's a beautiful painting, I just don't happen to have that particular one. But the one I do have was done commissioned specifically by the founder of that fast-food business in Southern California whose leader is now a woman who became a born-again Christian and now has been celebrated across the United States in various interviews because of how she is running that particular business.

I'll let you know what the name of that business is before our program is over. Kind of keep the thing going here. Get a copy of the book, "Renewing the Soul of America," one person at a time, beginning with you. $15 on the website, saveus.org. Don't miss it. It's the most practical spiritual focus concerning our country that you'll likely ever read, "Renewing the Soul of America." We'll be back.

Guest (Male): Have you ever considered what the early church was like? Many people are developing a heart longing for a greater fulfillment in our practices as Christians. A recent study showed 53,000 people a week are leaving the back door of America's churches in frustration. What is going on? Why has there not been even a 1% gain among followers of Christ in the last 25 years? Could it be that God is seeking to restore first-century Christianity for the 21st century?

Jesus said, "I'll build my church." Is Christ by His Spirit stirring to prepare the church for the 21st century? The early church prayed together and broke bread from house to house. They were family, and it was said by all who observed, "Behold how they love one another." Incredible. But the same can be found right now. Go to saveus.org and click "Sell Church." We can revive first-century Christianity for the 21st century. It's about people, not programs. It's about a body, not a building. That's saveus.org. Click "Sell Church." Check it out.

Chuck Crismier: Again, I welcome you back to Viewpoint. I'm Chuck Crismier, and we're talking about the National Day of Prayer today. National Day of Prayer Task Force. And you know, I was thinking about this as I received an article from Israel National News. You say, well, what could that possibly have to do with America's National Day of Prayer? Well, I think if you listen carefully with your heart, you'll understand why I bring this up. It's called "A Land That Abhors Immorality."

The writer, a rabbi, today says we should feel that we have a closer relationship to God when we stroll through the streets of Eretz Israel, that is the land of Israel, and the holy city of Jerusalem. And this should inspire us to a higher level of behavior. In the seventh year known as Shemitah, the Jewish people in Israel renounce their ownership rights to the land, which must remain fallow for the year. By observing this Sabbath of the land, he said, we attest to creation. Everything belongs to God, and we are but strangers and sojourners to whom he has entrusted his property on the condition that we put it to good use and especially that we share the bounty with those who are less fortunate.

The land of Israel is unique. Its holiness expresses itself in revulsion against immoral behavior. It will not countenance our misdeeds and indecencies. In commanding us to refrain from forbidden sexual practices, the Torah warns that the land will not tolerate it but will vomit us out, as though the land has a delicate personality that has no stomach for morally corrupt behavior. You know, as I looked at this and I thought, you know what? This should be something that we understand for our country. Because you see, God pronounced blessings and cursings that would happen to Israel depending on how they behaved, whether or not they would live in obedience according to God's word, will, and ways.

You can read about that in Deuteronomy chapter 28. The first 15 verses are called the blessings. And if you'll do all these things that I've commanded you, blessed you be in the city, blessed you be in the field, blessed you be your basket and your store, blessed you be when you come in and blessed you be when you go out, and so on. 15 verses. But then starting with verse 15, actually, he says, "But if you will not obey the Lord your God, if you'll not do His will, if you'll cease to do His will and do what you want to do, then all these curses will come upon you."

And the curses outnumber the blessings four to one. By the end of the 60-some verses, you find that about 40 of the verses actually are the curses and end up with the dispersion of Israel and the Jewish people throughout the world. And that's exactly what happened. Now here we have a country. Here we have a country, friends, where our founders—I'm not talking about the political founders, I'm talking about the spiritual founders—saw this as, shall we say, a Gentile Israel.

They said, "We're going to do as Gentiles what Israel failed to do." And we're going to make it a reality. In fact, if you will read "Renewing the Soul of America," there's a seven or eight-page document in the appendix called "A Model of Christian Charity," written by a godly attorney by the name of John Winthrop. Before he landed four boatloads of Puritans, he penned this document, which some historians believe is the clearest expression of the American vision ever penned. When you read it, it will stir your soul. It really will.

It'll help you to understand that in reality the vision, the original vision for this country, was not a political vision. It was a spiritual vision that began in the name of God, amen. So be it. That we were going to do on this land instead of calling it Eretz Israel, we'll call it Eretz America, the land of America. That as this rabbi has written, we should have a closer relationship to God when we stroll through the streets of Eretz America, the land of America. And it should inspire us to even higher level of obedience to God, to rejoice in His word, His will, and His name.

But it's not happening. We've had 50 years of National Days of Prayer, and it's still not happening. There's been no revival. There's been no spiritual awakening. Oh, there's been lots of prayer, but not lots of repentance and obedience. There's been the word repentance, but it hasn't been specific. What are we supposed to repent of? Most people were praying, "Well, we repent, we repent of what those guys wearing the black hats do." Whoever the ones wearing the black hats were.

And so we've had no change. No change that we could really believe in. So we ask the question, does prayer matter? Indeed it does. Prayer matters greatly. Men always, always ought to pray and not to faint. We should pray for all that are in authority that we might lead a quiet and peaceable life, the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy. Yes. But ultimately, the prayers that we should pray should be the prayer that changes things. And when we cry out to God, ultimately should end up changing us, so that we become more like Him.

And when our country becomes more like Him, starting with you and me and our kids, in our schools, in our churches, our homes, wherever we are, then America will change. And we'll walk through the streets of America then and it will be as if the relationship was God in our country, will be like strolling with Him through Eretz America, the land of America, just like the land of Israel. But guess what? It's not that way in Israel either now. Israel's divided just like we are. Israel is divided just like we are, and it's not pretty.

That's why a lot of people have concerns about how should we be dealing with Israel? What should be our attitude toward Israel? Well, let me ask you this, what should be our attitude toward America? Our attitude should be we despise unrighteousness, we revel in righteousness, and we do the best that we can within our own power individually, one person at a time, to bring glory to the Lord through our own humble repentance that our prayers lead to, so that we can stand before God and glorify Him and the generations can follow that and say, "Wow, what a God that blesses a people like that, a nation like that." That's what God intended for Israel.

And so if we would really, seriously want to do God's will and not just go through rituals of prayer, we might just take it more seriously and become doers of the word and not just hearers only, deceiving our own selves. You say, "Well, I just don't know quite what that looks like." That's why you need to get a copy of the book, "Renewing the Soul of America." You know, it's kind of like what Pat Robertson said among the 38 who endorsed this book.

He said, "What will happen to America and to the world if the people of this generation rediscover our spiritual heritage and commit their lives and the life of this nation to it? Chuck Crismier tells us in 'Renewing the Soul of America' what can be done if we have the courage to make the right decisions." We just haven't had the courage yet. No courage.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss, now known as Wolgemuth, said, "Chuck probes the heart and conscience of our nation with a rare combination of insight, directness, urgency, and compassion. This message desperately needs to be heard and heeded before it's too late." The late D. James Kennedy wrote, "With an insightful grasp of the history of our nation's founding, added to a deep understanding of the judgment God has imposed upon nations outside of His holy will, Chuck Crismier clearly and crisply enunciates the choices facing not only America, but Americans in this dangerous period of our God-blessed but God-warned country."

And those are just three of the 38 endorsements. You can see those are not just blithe words. They're words coming seriously, realizing the seriousness of our situation. Lots of prayer, but are they the prayers that God wants to hear? From hearts that are truly humble. From hearts that truly want to see the kind of revival, awakening, revival that we say we yearn for. That's where we stand today. Tears are welling up in my eyes right now because I know the time that we're in, and you know too. You really do. You know it's a desperate time.

It's not just a matter of a desperate time with Iran or with any of the other nations of the earth. The problem is us. As it has been said before, if we were truly living according to the word, will, and ways of the Lord, no nation would be able to take this nation down. But we can take it down ourselves from the inside out. Let's not let that happen. This is our National Day of Prayer. Today if we will hear His voice, we must hearken and do His will.

Ask the Lord if there's anything in your life that needs to change. You see, it starts with one person. It only takes a spark to get a little fire going, right? "Renewing the Soul of America," one person at a time, beginning with you and with me. Again, thanks for joining us here on Viewpoint. I hope that this has been helpful, encouraging, maybe a little challenging here today on the program. But it's necessary. We need to be provoked to love and good works, and that's what we're doing here on the program. Preparing the way of the Lord for history's final hour. I hope you see it that way. I hope it's encouraging to you.

And I ask, you my friends, that you would join with us in supporting what we're doing here, starting our 32nd year this very day. Confronting the deepest issues of America's heart and home from God's eternal perspective, preparing the way of the Lord for history's final hour. The name of that business out there in Southern California is called In-N-Out Burgers. In-N-Out Burgers. They are a business all alone, different than any other because they have a different kind of leadership. God bless and be a blessing.

Guest (Male): You've been listening to Viewpoint with Chuck Crismier. Viewpoint is supported by the faithful gifts of our listeners. Let me urge you to become a partner with Chuck as a voice to the church, declaring vision for the nation. Join us again next time on Viewpoint as we confront the issues of America's heart and home.