July 2, 2009
Dear Church Family and Friends,
Last night as Calvin, Jenny, and I joined a few hundreds others saluting to the Red, White and Blue, we had a
delightful Independence Day celebration in Temple City Park. As I smelled the pop corn, hotdog and looked at the
many happy children and families, Erma Bombeck’s words came to mind, “You have to love a nation that celebrates
its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show
of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids through Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies
die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism”.
America is much more than a geographical territory. It is a political and moral fact – the first community in which men
set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality. For those of us who lived
though tyranny and shed blood for democracy in pursuing freedom, American story is one of truth, legacy, and vision.
The grand experiment is built upon a commitment to the truthfulness of the Word of God and the solid foundation of
biblical principles. I love the hymn sung at the funeral of President Franklin Roosevelt, “Faith of our fathers, living still,
in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword”. Indeed, the land of the free, the “Promised Land”, is part of the founding vision
and faith of our fathers.
Today we still hold the Word, the principles, and the vision dear to heart. We continue to cherish our identity as
shaped and informed by the truth, the conviction, and the dream. At Bethlehem, this grand experiment carries on in
our midst. As one of the first Lutheran missions in Temple City, our legacy testifies to that “God’s great pow’r shall
win all nations unto to Thee”. Our multilingual congregations often reminds of the Day of Pentecost when God
manifest His Spirit to all peoples and stir up many tongues. Your Godly love and generosity has recently drawn
another ministry to the community. I believe all the heavenly hosts, cherubim and seraphim rejoice with us in the way
you welcome strangers.
Bethlehem story is one of truth, legacy, and vision. On this journey, we have met challenges, overcome obstacles,
and “we will love both friend and foe”. In this story, we have learnt “by uniting we stand, by dividing we fall” and
continue to call our people “join hand in hand, brave Americans all”! In all of our strife to bless this House of God, we
boldly proclaim that “we will be true to Thee till death”. May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy,
more lovely, than this our own country! May the Son in his works visit no place more delightful than Bethlehem
family!
Serving Christ,
Pastor Frank
Dear Church Family and Friends,
Last night as Calvin, Jenny, and I joined a few hundreds others saluting to the Red, White and Blue, we had a
delightful Independence Day celebration in Temple City Park. As I smelled the pop corn, hotdog and looked at the
many happy children and families, Erma Bombeck’s words came to mind, “You have to love a nation that celebrates
its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show
of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids through Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies
die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism”.
America is much more than a geographical territory. It is a political and moral fact – the first community in which men
set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality. For those of us who lived
though tyranny and shed blood for democracy in pursuing freedom, American story is one of truth, legacy, and vision.
The grand experiment is built upon a commitment to the truthfulness of the Word of God and the solid foundation of
biblical principles. I love the hymn sung at the funeral of President Franklin Roosevelt, “Faith of our fathers, living still,
in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword”. Indeed, the land of the free, the “Promised Land”, is part of the founding vision
and faith of our fathers.
Today we still hold the Word, the principles, and the vision dear to heart. We continue to cherish our identity as
shaped and informed by the truth, the conviction, and the dream. At Bethlehem, this grand experiment carries on in
our midst. As one of the first Lutheran missions in Temple City, our legacy testifies to that “God’s great pow’r shall
win all nations unto to Thee”. Our multilingual congregations often reminds of the Day of Pentecost when God
manifest His Spirit to all peoples and stir up many tongues. Your Godly love and generosity has recently drawn
another ministry to the community. I believe all the heavenly hosts, cherubim and seraphim rejoice with us in the way
you welcome strangers.
Bethlehem story is one of truth, legacy, and vision. On this journey, we have met challenges, overcome obstacles,
and “we will love both friend and foe”. In this story, we have learnt “by uniting we stand, by dividing we fall” and
continue to call our people “join hand in hand, brave Americans all”! In all of our strife to bless this House of God, we
boldly proclaim that “we will be true to Thee till death”. May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy,
more lovely, than this our own country! May the Son in his works visit no place more delightful than Bethlehem
family!
Serving Christ,
Pastor Frank
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| Columns Section: 世紀網站專欄區 世纪网站专栏区: 008-005 王浩 專欄 王浩 专栏 Pastor Frank Wang Column 作者：王浩 王浩 Pastor Frank Wang Frank's Monthly Pastoral: 2009 July: "Independence Day" Pastoral |
