July 1st, 2026
The Upward Look, by Jon Forrest
The Source of America’s Greatness
It has been interesting to observe the responses of foreign national visiting the United States to the differences that have surprised them since coming to the World Cup Soccer competitions. I’m pretty sure they had seen all of the criticisms of our nation that had come from the American media to their countries. They have been stunned by the abundance and variety of products available for purchase here. I heard several comments calling Walmart a museum. The portions of food available in the abundance of restaurants has been beyond anything they have at home. They have tasted things that we take for granted like, of all things, Ranch Dressing, that they are packing into their luggage. They find Americans friendly and hospitable beyond their expectations. They can’t believe that you get ice and water free of charge in every restaurant they find. Buckee’s convenience stores blow them away (happens to a lot of Americans who live in other regions of the country too). But truthfully, they really don’t understand what really make’s America great.
Henry W. Grady was speaking on the greatness of America, and he said, “I stood by Hampton Roads in Chesapeake Bay, and saw there deployed the great naval strength of America. And then, on the shore, the parading might of our armies. And as I looked at the navy and as I looked at the army, I said, ‘Surely the strength of America is to be found in its military and naval might.’”
The great orator said he stood under the dome of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. And as he watched the processes of democracy, he said, “Surely the greatness of America is to be found in its Senate, in its Congress, and in its legislative processes.”
Then, he said, “Sometime later, I was the guest in a Georgia home, in a farm of an old friend that I knew from boyhood days. And at the end of the day, when the work was done, he gathered his family around him, opened God’s Holy Word and, after reading from God’s Bible, the family knelt in prayer.”
And the great orator said, “As I knelt with my old friend and his family in the circle of that evening prayer, the great armies and navies of America faded away. The Capitol Building with its Senate and its Congress faded away. And there came to my heart the conviction that the strength of America is found in its godly people.”
When I first read Grady’s observation, I thought he fell short by not saying that God is the secret. But then I thought, “No, he’s right. God’s presence and activity in America would be useless if it were not for people who have embraced God and his ways into their lives. God does not do anything if it isn’t through lives of his people.
That’s why we need to embrace the words of 2 Chronicle 7:14, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
For the past 250 years God has blessed America because Americans have blessed God. This Sunday we will celebrate God’s work in our nation with a God and Country or Faith and Freedom celebration. We will worship God and thank Him for America. I will share a message with you titled America's Only Hope based on James 5:13-20 and 2 Chronicles 7:14 and others. Plan to join in the celebration of God and America.
Celebrating with you,
Jon
The Source of America’s Greatness
It has been interesting to observe the responses of foreign national visiting the United States to the differences that have surprised them since coming to the World Cup Soccer competitions. I’m pretty sure they had seen all of the criticisms of our nation that had come from the American media to their countries. They have been stunned by the abundance and variety of products available for purchase here. I heard several comments calling Walmart a museum. The portions of food available in the abundance of restaurants has been beyond anything they have at home. They have tasted things that we take for granted like, of all things, Ranch Dressing, that they are packing into their luggage. They find Americans friendly and hospitable beyond their expectations. They can’t believe that you get ice and water free of charge in every restaurant they find. Buckee’s convenience stores blow them away (happens to a lot of Americans who live in other regions of the country too). But truthfully, they really don’t understand what really make’s America great.
Henry W. Grady was speaking on the greatness of America, and he said, “I stood by Hampton Roads in Chesapeake Bay, and saw there deployed the great naval strength of America. And then, on the shore, the parading might of our armies. And as I looked at the navy and as I looked at the army, I said, ‘Surely the strength of America is to be found in its military and naval might.’”
The great orator said he stood under the dome of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. And as he watched the processes of democracy, he said, “Surely the greatness of America is to be found in its Senate, in its Congress, and in its legislative processes.”
Then, he said, “Sometime later, I was the guest in a Georgia home, in a farm of an old friend that I knew from boyhood days. And at the end of the day, when the work was done, he gathered his family around him, opened God’s Holy Word and, after reading from God’s Bible, the family knelt in prayer.”
And the great orator said, “As I knelt with my old friend and his family in the circle of that evening prayer, the great armies and navies of America faded away. The Capitol Building with its Senate and its Congress faded away. And there came to my heart the conviction that the strength of America is found in its godly people.”
When I first read Grady’s observation, I thought he fell short by not saying that God is the secret. But then I thought, “No, he’s right. God’s presence and activity in America would be useless if it were not for people who have embraced God and his ways into their lives. God does not do anything if it isn’t through lives of his people.
That’s why we need to embrace the words of 2 Chronicle 7:14, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
For the past 250 years God has blessed America because Americans have blessed God. This Sunday we will celebrate God’s work in our nation with a God and Country or Faith and Freedom celebration. We will worship God and thank Him for America. I will share a message with you titled America's Only Hope based on James 5:13-20 and 2 Chronicles 7:14 and others. Plan to join in the celebration of God and America.
Celebrating with you,
Jon
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