First let me say to you, Happy Canada Day. This is a particularly joyous time of the year for me and my family as we are dual citizens and we get to celebrate Canada’s Independence Day on July 1 and the United States on July 4.

It is a time of celebration for certain, but from the accounts of both countries that went to war side by side to give us the freedom and peace we have this day, we must never forget the price paid was very high.

And the price paid for our eternal freedom and peace on the cross of Christ was the highest price ever paid for people that didn’t deserve it. So today we talk about peace. The question is, is peace nothing more than a word that means “not war?”

If peace is the word that we use to mean the opposite of war, then my friends in Christ, this world has never experienced peace since we have been at war in some, way, shape, or form since the day Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. That was the real beginning of World War I and it hasn’t stopped since.

Oh, there have been very brief periods of time when the nations were settled and not killing each other, but rest assured, somewhere in the world, war reigned, through genocide, senseless murder, social conflict, tribal clashes, and closest to home, conflict with family, friends, acquaintances at war with each other.

We like to think our country is forever free and at peace because there isn’t much going on in the confines of the walls of this country that would lead one to believe there is war going on.

But though the evidence of peace is alluring and appealing to, and even embraced by, many who believe we have achieved it, the reality is the United States is at war at home and abroad and the very freedom our ancestors fought for is in jeopardy.

At home, senseless shootings, upheaval amongst and between different ethnic groups, a huge political divide, an immigration nightmare, a split this country hasn’t seen the likes of since the Civil War. And where are our troops? Stationed abroad and in harm’s way to do everything they can to try to maintain peace in an area that has never known peace.

The root cause of all this turmoil is the fact we have drifted away from what our founding fathers established as the foundation for a free country that is at peace with itself and the world.

Let’s start with Psalm 33:12 saying, “Blessed is the nation (like the USA) whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for his inheritance.” Patrick Henry states, "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religion but on the gospel of Jesus Christ."

Do we still believe that?

How about John Adams who stated, "Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people ... it is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Moral and religious people – are we that?

And lastly George Washington’s Farewell Address to Nation, "Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove Christianity from politics." And we have done just that, plus our schools, plus the workplace, plus our homes, plus, plus, plus, you name it, we’ve done it. To many, maybe even most, God is no longer our Lord.

Alexis de Tocqueville, a famous French political philosopher, visited our nation more than 100 years ago to uncover the secret of our greatness. He traveled from town to town, talking with people, asking questions, examining every facet of our society.

Returning to France, he wrote these amazing words, "I sought for America’s greatness. I found it not in her fields & forests. I found it not in her mines & factories. I found it not in her Congress & great tribunals.

"It was only when I entered her churches & heard her pulpits thundering against sin & preaching righteousness that I discovered the secret of her greatness."

Then he added, "America is great because America is good. If America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great."

Are we still the good nation he referred to? Let’s talk more about that Sunday.

I invite the good people of Lake County to join us at First Lutheran Church for our “blended music” Holy Communion service on July 1.

Bible study specific to the immigration situation we are in is at 9:30 a.m., worship at 11 a.m., followed by a hot lunch for all after worship.

Everyone is welcome so please join us Sunday and come as you are.

Chris DelCol is pastor of First Lutheran Church in Lucerne, Calif. The church is located at 3863 Country Club Drive, telephone 707-274-5572. Email Pastor Chris at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..