As Americans, we have much for which to be thankful. As Christians, we even have so much more. As residents of the Grande Ronde Valley, we can be thankful for the beauty of God’s creation here and the enjoyment of life in rural America. The outcome of the election is not what I had hopped for or prayed for, but I still have much to be thankful for as a child of God living in the beauty of His creation and being part of His church here in Summerville. My hope is not in politicians or in our political leaders following God’s Word. My hope is in the God of creation, His Son as my Saviour, and His Holy Spirit living in my spirit while I live life here on His earth. The accounts of God’s children living on earth in the Bible are filled with more examples of them living in ungodly societies led by ungodly and wicked leaders. They honored God and sought to be a godly influence in those conditions which, I might add, were far worse than we have ever experienced in our lives; so, we can live for God with ungodly leaders as well. The Bible makes it clear that while on earth we will never experience a utopian society, because man is by nature sinful and selfish in our carnal nature. That is why I am thankful for our constitution that defines the equal and separate branches of our form of government that are built in checks and balances to one another. Our founding fathers understood the depravity of sinful humans and knew they needed controls on those who lead our government to ensure that tyranny would be kept in check in this nation under God. This is why the socialists and the Islamists want to destroy and dismantle our constitution, because it is the hindrance to them making our nation something completely different than other nations. This is why we need to be living out of faith in Christ every day in the world and proclaiming His message of truth from His Word. Only the light of God’s truth can dispel the darkness of deception and destruction of man’s sinful depravity and man’s false religions. The Salvation of lost souls is the best solution to the problems of our nation and every nation on the face of the earth. If a sinner hears the Gospel, it will reveal the darkness sin and deception of Satan has caused in their soul. If they hear the truth of God’s Word, the Holy Spirit has the tool of His Sword in the life of that sinner to convict them of their sins, convince them of their need of Christ, and compel them to put their faith in Christ. God’s Word puts with in them faith so they can trust Christ as their Saviour. This is the reality of changing lives, changing how people live, and changing their eternal destiny. The only way to change people is to change their heart in Christ. The only way to change how people live is to change how they think in their heart. The only way to change how people influence others is to change who is influencing them from Satan to God. This is the reality that God declares in His Word, and as soon as God’s children get on board with His plan things will begin to change to His glory. But as long as people keep ignoring God’s Word and trying other plans, we will continue to make a mess of things.