Well, recently Angel and I, I mean Michelle and I, were talking and I was telling her about an old song called “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition”. She didn’t quite remember that old tune, but I had heard the title sung by various folks over the years……. I had dismissed it as not good theology…. until re-cent-LY.

Oh yes…that is what I said… until re-cent-ly. . (I am really going to miss Paul Harvey!)

            Well, recently… I began to have the words to the chorus of that old song come to mind for some strange reason and suddenly I thought that is IT. Praise the Lord AND Pass the Ammunition. So, I did a bit of research on the song and found the HIStory on it and here is some of what I found: It was written by a man named Frank Loesser and became very popular in 1942; was sung by the Merry Macs and Kay Kyser and His Orchestra.. But the true story behind the song came about on the deck of the USS New Orleans during the battle of Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7^th 1941, “a date which will live in infamy”. Here is what happened, as the Japanese were flying over our fleet, bombing and strafing our men, a chaplain named Lt. Howell Forgy came by as the men were manning the gun turrets.  He was patting them on the backs and saying “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition”! The Lieutenant who told this story said that it brought great encouragement to him and the men! Rumors spread and Loesser penned what became a very popular song!

            As I have pondered this concept I began to see a missing element that is becoming rare in America, especially in the Church, and that is the desire to fight for what is right. Oh, there are lots of people causing a ruckus in America, but mostly for the wrong agenda. It seems so many others have become passive and lost the desire to fight for what is right and true. We’ve had four decades of self-centeredness and “Political Correctness”. “If it feels good do it”.  “What ever floats your boat”. “Be tolerant”.   “Be careful, you don’t want to offend anyone”. ” What right do you have to judge someone?” We have been squeezed into a mold.  To sum it up from a Biblical view: “And each man did what was right in his own sight.”  And haven’t we added to this with our “spiritualized” excuses?  How is this one, “Well, the Lord is in control.” Or, “Let’s pray about it”, “We’re in the End Times and things are going to get worse and worse ‘till Jesus comes”, etc.

Recently the Chinese government has acknowledged that religion has a part in the nation of China. Who could ever have imagined the Communist’s saying that!? There are now an estimated 120-130 million Christians in China and within several decades it will be a Christian Nation!! The Middle East is having huge numbers of Muslims come to Christ; Africa is now being recognized as a Christian Continent, no longer the Dark Continent. South America has incredible happenings in the church.  Several years ago I read that Argentina was having more people born again into the Kingdom than the natural birth rate!

Now, what about America? Are we to stand with our hands in prayer as we watch it sink? Or be handcuffed by the politically correct spirit? What is our duty? Have we not been commissioned by the Lord Jesus to make disciples of ALL the nations?  (Mat. 28:19-20)  Why have we become faint hearted?

Well, I must say I am encouraged because more and more Christians are realizing “that all hands are needed on deck”!  We are to influence every part of society. EVERY part! Begin to use your gifts, “natural” and spiritual – when you do, guess what? God will add to them!  Here is what will reshape the USA for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Here is the IT that I mentioned in the beginning, Ready?……… It is found in that old song….”Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!”  Really…no joke! You see we must pray and praise the Lord, intercede and fast for our nation. Many Christians are very excited to go to a prayer rally and I pray more do, they are comfortable doing this, and for some, well….it is safe.

BUT, what about the “Pass the Ammunition” part?  Bullets, land mines, RPGs, someone might reject me?  They won’t like me anymore! Not comfortable! No thanks, after all “If God wants them saved, He is well able to do it with out you”!  Look, let’s do what Christians in China, South America, the Middle East and Africa have done. Prayed and obeyed.

Home groups, letters to Congress, protest unjust laws, what about making more movies like Fireproof? And what about sharing your testimony of Jesus’ love with some one and telling them how they can be saved? Let your voice be heard in the land!!!!  Be an activist for Jesus and THE Kingdom!  WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Let’s sell our lives dearly!  Let’s do it. Let today be the first day towards a Christ for America!!

And that is the Good News!

And now you know the REST of the story…………..Good..Day.

Gary Smith

New Life Christian Fellowship

gary@newlifealpena.org