Monumental

Proverbs 22:28 “Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.”

A week ago Friday, our small group finished up on our Study of the book of Ephesians (which I still need to write up the notes on to post). We decided that, when one study series ends and before the next one begins, we should have a Christian movie night as a “change of pace”. I’m kind of a Christian movie junkie and have quite a collection, so it was no problem to come up with a “Flick” to enjoy together as a group. Before Christmas, I received a discount coupon from the American Family association for $10 off a DVD purchase so I picked up two recent Films that were at the movie theaters that I missed. So this Friday, we watched “Monumental” by Kirk Cameron. In these chaotic times, this powerful and inspiring documentary seeks to discover America’s true “national treasure” - the people, places and principles that made America the free nation it is, by following the tiny band of religious outcasts who founded this nation, called the Pilgrims, and hit upon a formula for success and established a nation that has become the best example of civil, economic and religious liberty the world has ever known. More importantly, how can we apply these same foundational truths today?

2 Timothy 1:2-3 “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.”

I won’t give the plot away, but in Plymouth, Massachusetts he discovers “The National Monument to the Forefathers”, which stands on the summit of Monument Hill. Formerly known as the “Pilgrim Monument”, it commemorates the Mayflower Pilgrims. Have you ever heard of this statue? Why is that? Dedicated on August 1, 1889, it honors their ideals as later generally embraced by the United States. It is thought to be the world's largest solid granite monument, and is the third-tallest statue in the United States. The heroic figure of Faith pointing to heaven, her foot on Plymouth Rock, surmounts a massive granite pedestal. Below are seated Liberty with Peace flourishing under her protection and Tyranny overthrown by her power. Law is attended by Justice and Mercy. Education has Wisdom on one side and Youth led by Experience on the other. Morality, between a Prophet and an Evangelist, holds the Commandments in her left hand and the scroll of Revelation in her right. Below the seated figures, four marble alto-reliefs recall significant episodes in Pilgrim History: the Departure from Holland, the Signing of the Compact, the Landing at Plymouth and the Treaty with Massasoit. This statue is truly “Monumental” and its message essential for this country today. I hope that you and I get a chance to go see this “monument of faith” and this excellent movie in person someday and bring its message of “LIBERTY” to a world that needs God and the Bible.

The Mayflower Compact begins: “In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith, etc. Having undertaken, for the Glory of God, and advancements of the Christian faith and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God, and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic.”

In Christ, Brian