Courageous Living: Dare To Take A Stand

Courageous Living: Dare to Take a Stand by Michael Catt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Michael Catt is the Pastor of the church that has made the movies, "Flywheel," "Facing the Giants," "Fireproof," and "Courageous." This book is a book written as a resource for the message in the movie. I have read several of Michael's books. He does a great job reinforcing the truths of Scripture. He uses lots of quotes from others as well as giving Scripture support for the principles taught. I will leave one quote from the book for you to think about: "Instead of cowering to the pressures of this culture, Christians need to become a force for positive peer pressure. We need to break out of the box and drop the baggage. Boxes are designed for storage and shoes not saints."

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Below are a few quotes from this book:

Instead of cowering to the pressures of this culture, Christians need to become a force for positive peer pressure. We need to break out of the box and drop the baggage. Boxes are designed for storage and shoes, not saints. p. 6

I’m praying for God to raise up a generation who will venture out and discover the view is worth the climb. God longs to find a man or woman He can trust with a great opportunity. p. 7

The choices we make determine the roads we take. Choices have consequences and reveal our true character. p. 8

Sometimes God has to slow us down to get our attention. Jim Elliot said, “I think the devil has made it his business to monopolize on three elements: noise, hurry, crowds….Satan is quite aware of the power of silence.” When Moses left the wilderness, he was a man on a mission. p. 30

Martin Luther said there are only two days that matter: this day and that day. If you aren’t living this day for Christ, you won’t be ready to face Him on that day. p. 31

Adrian Rogers said, “God showed up and said to Joshua, ‘I didn’t come to take sides, I came to take over.’”  p. 38

John Blanchard says, “God thinks most of the man who thinks of himself the least.” p. 48

Humility is not thinking poorly of oneself, but rather it means not thinking of oneself at all. p. 48

Gary Inrig said, “One of the great truths of Scripture is that when God looks at us, He does not see us for what we are, but for what we can become, as He works in our lives. Other people look at us and see our flaws and failings. God looks at us and sees our possibilities, through His transforming presence.” p. 48

Hudson Taylor said, “All of God’s great men have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with them; they counted on His faithfulness.” p. 54

God is not looking for great people; He’s looking for available people who will follow Him. p. 57

God will use you publicly if you allow Him to tutor you privately. p. 82

The person of courage is willing to face the consequences of his decisions. We may stand alone, but we are never alone. p. 83

Vance Havner said, “If you lack knowledge, go to school. If you lack wisdom, get on your knees!” p. 84

Billy Graham said, “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.” p. 85

The New Rebellion Handbook defines courage as a “willingness to go the distance when the vision has faded, when you’re weary, when no one is there to cheer you on. Courage is an enduring commitment to be your true self when no one is looking and you’re facing intimidation….Courage has many faces. Is yours one of them?” p. 85

We need the fire of the Spirit and the showers of revival. p. 92

Teddy Roosevelt said, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” p. 105

Our standard is not Hollywood; it’s Him. p. 107

When you walk with God, you’ll anger those who don’t. p. 110

If you are doing God’s will, expect opposition. p. 110

Chuck Swindoll said, “Part of the unwritten job requirements for every leader is the ability to handle criticism. That’s part of the leadership package. If you never get criticized, chances are you aren’t getting anything done.” p. 112

Jonathan Accuf writes, “Hate from others is like moss, it can only grow on stagnant objects. “The motion of following your calling repels hate.” p. 114

Roy Laurin writes, “Never stop working to fight. Be ready to fight and repel the invader but always keep up the work. A man’s greatest defense is the work he is doing. If he constantly answers the attacks made on him he cannot work and if he doesn’t work he will not be able to fulfill the purpose of his life. p. 114

We don’t have time for average. Average is climbing halfway up the mountain and stopping. It’s as close to great as it is to bad. p. 128

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The Cost of Discipleship

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What is the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ? Well that is what this book explains. Bonhoeffer makes nit plain that the price is high. Ther cost means we must die to self! I few quotes from the book:

Jesus asks nothing of us without giving us the strength to perform it. His commandment never seeks to destroy life, but to foster, strengthen and heal it. p. 40

"Ye are the salt." Jesus does not say: " You must be the salt." It is not for the disciples to decide whether they will be the salt of the earth, for they are so whether they like it or not, they have been made salt by the call they have recieved. Again, it is: "Ye are the salt," not "Ye have the salt." p. 130

The call of Jesus makes the disciple community not only the salt but also the light of the world: their activity is visible, as well as imperceptible. "Ye are the light." Once again it is not: "You are to be the light," they are already the light because Christ has called them, they are a light which is seen of men, they cannot be otherwise, and if they were it would be a sign that they had not been called. How impossible, how utterly absurd it would be for the disciples-these disciples, such men as these! - to try and become the light of the world! No, they are already the light, and the call has made them so.The light is not an instrument which has been put in their hands, such as their preaching. It is the disciples themselves. pp. 131-132

Prayer is the supreme instance of the hidden character of the Christian life. It is the antithesis of selfdisplay. When men pray, they have ceased to know themselves, and know only God whom they call upon. Prayer does not aim at any direct effect on the world; it is addressed to God alone, and is therefore the perfect example of undemonstrative action. p. 181

I highly recommend this book but be prepared to be challenged!

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A Simple Christmas

A Simple Christmas: Twelve Stories that Celebrate the True Holiday Spirit by Mike Huckabee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am a huge Huckabee fan! I wish he would have run for President this year. This book is more of a biography than a Christmas book. Even though most of the events center around the Christmas season. One quote from the book I would like to leave with you is found on page 103, "True faith is forged in the furnace, not the showroom."



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Hand of Providence: The Strong and Quiet Faith of Ronald Reagan

Hand of Providence: The Strong and Quiet Faith of Ronald Reagan by Mary Beth Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The is the best book I have read on Reagan. Mary Beth Brown does a wonderful job giving the reader a glimpse of the Christian man Reagan. She also has a Scripture verse to begin each chapter to help set the theme for that section. Many familiar evangelical Christian leaders are quoted in this book including C.S. Lewis, James Dobson, Charles Stanley, Tim LaHay, Eric Liddell, Adrian Rogers as well as many others. If you are a Reagan fan I highly recommend this book!

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No Greater Love

No Greater Love by Kathi Mills-Macias
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book of Kathi Macias that I have read. I thought it was an excellent book. It is a story about apartheid and how the "love of Christ" can overcome that type of hatred. "No Greater Love" does an excellent job of explaining the Gospel. I pray that many will be saved who read the book!


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Restoring Your Spiritual Passion

Restoring Your Spiritual Passion by Gordon MacDonald
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gordon MacDonald is an excellent author. His illustrations are so good. He explains in this book how to restorte your passion for serving the Lord. His words are very motivating. I highly recommend this book!


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Below are some great quotes from this outstanding book:

John Wesley, “Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry because I never undertake more work than I can go through with calmness of spirit.” P. 35

Seven Conditions That Threaten Spiritual Passion (Passion Threatening Conditions)

1.     The Drained Condition

Any person who is heavily involved with people in highly stressful encounters of problem solving, conflict, or sales will understand what it means to be drained. pp. 39-40

            You can’t do work of a spiritual nature without energy going out of you. p. 43

2.     The Dried-Out Condition

If the one who is drained has reached the state by exhausting resources, one who is dried out has reached that state by not taking anything into the inner chambers of life for quite some time. The two conditions are often closely associated. pp. 47-48

Those with natural talents, like musicians, are quite vulnerable here. They can mistake the applause of the admiring crowds for God’s blessing. Thinking that their ability to raise the emotions of people in an artistic setting is the same as being a tool in the hand of God, they begin to abandon any sense of need for spiritual passion or energy and move ahead on their own instincts. More often, what power they appear to have is sheer theatrics, not spiritual passion. Often the system seems to work for a long time, and then–disaster. p. 48

W. E. Sangster describes the realities in this world when he concludes that he is spiritually dried out. “I am a minister of God, and yet my private life is a failure in these ways.

a.     I am irritable and easily put out.

b.     I am impatient with my wife and children.

c.     I am deceitful in that I often express private annoyance when a caller is announced and simulate pleasure when I actually greet them.

d.     From an examination of my heart, I conclude that most of my study has been crudely ambitious: that I wanted degrees more than knowledge and praise rather than equipment for service.

e.     Even in my preaching I fear that I am more often wondering what the people think of me, than what they think about my Lord and His word.

f.      I have long felt in a vague way, that something was hindering the effectiveness of my ministry and I must conclude that the “something” is my failure in living the truly Christian life.

g.     I am driven in pain to conclude that the girl who has lived as a maid in my house for more than three years has not felt drawn to the Christian life because of me.

h.     I find slight envies in my heart at the greater success of other young ministers. I seem to match myself with them in thought and am vaguely jealous when they attract more notice than I do. pp. 49-50

3.     The Distorted Condition

Spiritual passion is constantly under attack by the distortions of truth that pervade our times. We pass through a world in which there are, I am told, more than two thousand persuasion messages pressed at us each day. They come to us, for example, in advertising, direct human encounters, signs all about us (STOP HERE; NO FOOD OR DRINK ALLOWED; KEEP OFF GRASS), and endorsements by impressive people. pp. 52-53

      William Blake’s poem (with emphasis)

This life’s dim windows of the soul
Distort the heavens from pole to pole
And lead you to believe a lie
When you see with, not through, the eye p. 55 

4.     The Devastated Condition

The devastated condition is the fatigue that originates with people and events vigorously opposed to what one stands for. pp. 59

5.     The Disillusioned Condition

Spiritual passion can also be neutralized in disillusionment: the deflation of great dreams. P. 62

The moments of dream deflation leave large marks upon the soul. It would not take me long to list most of the occasions when I thought I had had given birth to a great idea only to have it torn apart by those who were more interested in status quo, or proper procedures, or politics, or their own positions of security or recognition. Of course there were not a few moments when my dreams were just plain ridiculous, and someone had to tell me so. P. 63

6.     The Defeated Condition

There is a weariness that comes from total personal defeat. Perhaps this is the most common of all the varieties of weariness. Who does not know the taste of failure? One suddenly feels utterly impotent, unable to live up to the set standards of faith. Or promises or commitments have been made, but then broken. Or disciplines and goals have been enthusiastically determined, and then abandoned. pp. 64

7.     The Disheartened Condition

Another good word might be intimidated. We fall into the intimidated, or disheartened, condition when we begin to gain a view of people, events, or institutions that causes them to appear to be far more powerful than the God of our faith. p. 66

 “Some folk bring joy wherever they go; others bring joy when they go.” p. 71

Five Kinds of People that Affect Spiritual Passion

1.     The Very Resourceful People: They Ignite Our Passion

William Wilberforce writes: “These wise men never endeavored to mold our uninformed opinions into any particular mold. Indeed it was needless for them to preach to us. Their lives spoke far more plainly and convincingly than any words. We saw their patience, cheerfulness, generosity, wisdom and activity daily before us, and we knew and felt that all this was only a natural expression of hears given to the service of God (Lean, God’s Politician, p. 100). This is a brilliant description of VRP’s and their effect upon those around them. pp. 73-76

2.     The Very Important People: They Share Our Passion

VIP’s, the very important people who share our passion. p. 76

What a blessing—an inestimable blessing is it to have a faithful friend! Satan is ready enough to point out whatever good we have; but it is only a faithful friend that will screen that from your sight, and show you your deficiencies. Our great apostasy seems to consist primarily in making a god of self; and he is the most valuable friend who will draw us more from self-seeking—self pleasing—and self-dependence, and help us to restore to God the authority we have robbed him of (Carus, Memories of the Life of Rev. Charles Simeon, p. 32). pp. 76-77

3.     The Very Trainable People: They Catch Our Passion

Third kind of person catches our passion. p. 78

And although VTP’s tax our strength, we are usually glad to cooperate because we sense the possibilities in them. p. 78

Paul is urging on Timothy when he wrote:

What you have heard from me [VRP] before many witnesses entrust to faithful men [VTP] who will be able to teach others also [more VTP] (2 Timothy 2:2 RSV) p. 79

4.     The Very Nice People: They Enjoy Our Passion

They do not add to our passion; nor do they seriously diminish it. They simply enjoy it. Being around people who exude spiritual energy can be a pleasurable experience if one professes Christianity. p. 81

Jesus never turned His back upon the VNP’s in His world. He saw them as sheep without a shepherd, and he treated them with dignity and possibility. That’s important to note, for from the midst of the VNP’s there came certain folk who eventually became VTP’s there came certain folk who eventually became VTP’s (each of the twelve was probably a VNP at first) and perhaps even later VIP’s. p. 81

It is startling to realize that in church life most of our heavy expenditures are for the very nice people. VNP’s fill the pews, the parking lots, and the classrooms and sop up the milk. We build and expand all too often for the convenience of the VNP’s.  p. 82

5.     The Very Draining People: They Sap Our Passion

The good news is that this serving often pays off, and those who were draining actually become useful and trainable. Then again, one can conceivably be a VDP to one person but not to another. For example, Paul considered John Mark a VDP who could not be trusted for a second missionary journey, but fortunately, Barnabas saw John Mark’s potential for a VTP or VIP and didn’t agree with Paul’s assessment. p. 86

First, VDP’s will be drawn (like mosquitoes to blood) to any healthy group of people, and they will remain until they become self-sustaining or until they are pushed away. Second, a healthy cluster of people will lose its vitality (its group passion) mysteriously and unpredictably because there are simply too many VDP’s to sustain. p. 87

Friendly fire comes in the form of several poisoned spirits

1.     The Competitive Spirit

Either they can become our partners, our confidence builders, or they become our competitors. The former help build our spiritual passion; the latter, when we see them as competitors, drain it. p. 96

2.     The Critical Spirit

When tired or unguarded, I found it easy to find a flaw in every person in my world. I found something to carp about in reading of every magazine or in the watching of or listening to a Christian presentation on television or radio. pp. 100-101

3.     The Vain Spirit

A third poisoned spirit that destroys spiritual passion makes its presences known when we harbor an insatiable need to impress people in order to have them prefer or like us. p. 102

The more we strive to live off the applause of others, the less we will hunger for the passion that causes us to seek the approval of the heavenly Father.  The great theologian James Denny once wrote, “No man can bear witness to Christ and to himself at the same time. No man can give the impression that he is clever and that Christ is mighty to save. P. 103

4.     The Adversarial Spirit

Our spiritual passion will also be affected by how we handle adversarial relationships, I’m thinking of our critics: those who are friendly and those who are unfriendly. And I’m thinking of those who have opposed or failed us and toward whom we feel vengeful. p. 103

Two Inner Battles That War against Spiritual Passion

1.     The Battle of Ambition

Ambition is the urge to get ahead, to establish oneself powerfully and securely. p. 108

Ambition is a difficult spiritual enemy to pin down. It covers itself in devious ways. It can sneak in through vocabulary such as “the Lord has led me…” or “I have this vision for…” or “the door has been opened to….” Ambition can cloak itself in one’s “burdens for…” or “concern toward….” It can hide behind the effort to expel or unseat rivals because they hold divergent theologies. But ambition is most dangerous when it settles into the cracks of the heart and tempts a person to weigh every situation in terms of the possibilities of advancing into positions where there is fame or reward. A close parallel exists between raw personal ambition and the spiritually-passionate desire to advance the kingdom of Christ. Sometimes it is difficult at first to tell the difference between the two. p. 109

We pray that the honor of God will be seen in our efforts, yet we are all too conscious that the approval of the crowd is at least of equal importance. p. 111

2.     The Battle of Pride

Akin to ambition is pride, the inability to handle success. Our Christian world includes men and women in both the pastoral and lay sectors who started into leadership not through the energy of ambition but by sincere commitment to God’s purposes. But something happened along the way. Their success became intoxicating. p. 113

Four Kinds of Safe Places that Restore Spiritual Passion

1.     The Sanctuary

It became possible to create an imaginary sanctuary in his private world. There in the desert he could walk right into a specially designed sanctuary that offered the possibility of personal restoration. “So I have looked upon thee in the sanctuary, beholding thy power and glory. Because thy steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise thee” (Ps. 63:2-3 RSV). p. 141

In this sanctuary David not only perceived the greatness of the majesty and power of God, but he was also refreshed with the reassurance of the steadfast love of the Lord. p. 142

2.     The Night Room

“As I like in bed, I remember you; all night long I think of you, because you have always been my help” (Ps. 63:6,7 TEV). p. 143

3.     The Protective Wings

Safe places in the air above the danger, in well-placed nests away from the danger, and close to protective parents’ wings covered or lifted from the danger. As David brooded upon safe places, the wings of a bird came to mind. pp. 145-146

“In the shadow of thy wings, I sing for joy” (Ps. 63:7 RSV). p. 146

“He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect and defend you” (Ps. 91:4 TEV). p. 147

4.     The Strong Hands

Confidence is a state of mind and heart that permits a person to act with assurance that yesterday’s defeat or failure will turn into tomorrow’s victory. Real confidence is not merely a psychic energy created on a base of unfounded hopes. It is a sense of new source of power from beyond ourselves—a power, a passion if you please, which has proved itself before and which is available to us as Christians in unlimited amounts. p. 148

A defenseless child walking beside his or her father, held by a strong hand.  This is the picture of one who assumes that his strength is an extension of the father’s power. The connection of the hands makes the difference between confidence and fear.  “My soul clings to thee,” David wrote, “thy right hand upholds me” (Ps. 63:8 RSV). p. 148

“I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 RSV). p. 151

In their desperate desire to get the church into the marketplace, some have though it wise to combine the safe place of corporate worship with utilitarian areas for secular activities.  When necessary, this is acceptable. But it is not ideal .It is highly beneficial, although not essential, to have quiet places where the secrets of the Father are shared. p. 153

Seven Principles of Still Times that Restore Spiritual Passion

1.     The Role Model Principle

God has taught us the special principles of still time in a number of ways. He taught it by modeling it in His own self-revelation. There is still time inferred at the conclusion of each of the days of creation. “And God said…” refers to the work God gave Himself to do. “And God saw…” refers to the still moments at the end of the work in which God stamped value and closure on what he had done. “And God saw that it was good” (Gen. 18:18 RSV). p. 160-161

2.     The Rhythm Principle

This remarkable rhythm in the work of God ought not to be taken lightly. p. 161

3.     The Rest Principle

I am convinced additionally that the Sabbath was a necessary discipline protecting against what we would later call workaholism, the tendency to use time flagrantly in the building of one’s fortune at the expense of a more balanced and spiritually oriented life. p. 165

4.     The Remembrance Principle

What were the components of the legal Sabbath that God taught to Israel? First, remember! In the Hebrew world it was a dynamic action when one remembered. The effort was that of attempting to fully experience a previous event as if it were happening all over again. p. 166

5.     The Renunciation Principle

When Moses first set forth the Sabbath concept as part of the law, an important component of what he was saying had to do with the concept of renunciation, the renunciation of work—not because work is a bad thing, but because if it is not contained, it gets out of control and captures the affections of the worker, causing work to lose its meaning and leaving no time for worship or rest. Moses was telling the people that a good thing must be renounced because a better thing must take precedence for a short while. p. 167

6.     The Refreshment Principle

“And God rested and refresh himself” is the literal wording of verse 17. p. 167

7.     The Recurrence Principle

I am also convinced that Sabbath, the recollection of the spirit, is more than just a day in our time. It is a recurring event throughout each of our days. p. 169

François Fénelon wrote:

You must learn…to make good use of chance moments, when waiting for someone, when going from place to place, or when in society where to be a good listener is all that is required…at such times it is easy to lift the heart to God, and thereby gain fresh strength for further duties. The less time one has the more carefully it should be managed. If you wait for free, convenient seasons in which to fulfill real duties, you run the risk of waiting forever; especially in such a life as yours. No, make use of chance moments (Fénelon, Spiritual Letters to Women, p. 16). p. 170

Six Special-Friend Teammates That Help You Maintain Spiritual Passion

1.     The Sponsor

The sponsor, of course, is another name for mentor or disciple. p. 180

The sponsor is that Very Resourceful Person (the VRP) who ushers us into opportunity and possibility. p. 180

2.     The Affirmer

The affirmer takes up where the sponsor leaves off. The affirmer takes note of what we are doing and what we are becoming and attaches value to it. p. 184

3.     The Rebuker

Rebuke and criticism are two different things, the former a valued gift, the latter somewhat cheaper. But I have been taught even to seize the truth in a criticism that may have been leveled for reasons other than for building me up. “There is a kernel of truth in every criticism, “.  I am told Dawson Trotman used to say to his friends. “Look for it, and when you find it, rejoice in its value.” p. 192

4.     The Intercessor

Intercessors are those who have accepted the responsibility for holding me up to God in prayer. p. 195

5.     The Partner

The restoration and maintenance of spiritual passion frequently depends upon the process of partnership with one or more who share the load. In fact, I am not sure that most of us can ever reach the full extent of our energies if we are not in partnership with someone else. p. 198

A close friend told me that one draft horse can move two tons of weight. But two draft horses in harness, working together, can move twenty-three tons of weight. That probably is not far from properly illustrating how men and women can work together in a common objective. pp. 198-199

6.     The Pastor

This is the tender person, the person who comes alongside in the moment of exhaustion. The pastor—and I’m not necessarily talking about ordained ministers—it is the one who helps make sense out of life when all has become so confusing. P. 202

Three Powerful Truths That Put the Christian Life in Perspective

1.     Intimacy Makes it Possible to Hear God’s Wishes

A proactive listening: seeking the wishes of the one to whom they had devoted themselves. pp. 211-212

Only in safe places and during still times will one hear the wishes of God—or of anyone else, for that matter. God’s wishes are not shouted; often they are hidden behind the commands. Anyone can hear the commandments of God unless he chooses not to. But it takes a sensitive ear to hear the wishes of God, and that only comes—as I’ve said—in safe places at still times. p. 212

2.     The Choice to Act Is Often Taken at Great Risk

The passion generated from a listening mode to an action mode.  Convictions generated from a genuine encounter with the living God create the passion to act and the strength to carry out the action. p. 214

In the biography of General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, a poignant moment is described when his son, Bramwell, must tell his father (then 83) that he is going blind from a disease of the eyes.

“You mean that I am blind?”

“Well, General, I fear that we must contemplate that.”

After a pause the old man said, “I shall never see your face again?”

“No, probably not in this world.”

During the next few moments the veteran’s hand crept along the counterpane to take hold of his son’s, and holding it he said very calmly, “God must know best!” And after another pause, “Bramwell, I have done what I could for God and for the people with my eyes. Now I shall do what I can for God and for the people without my eyes” (Begbie, The Life of General Wm Booth, p. 422). p. 215

3.     A Divine Energy Creates the Ultimate Passion

Throughout the Bible, a mysterious energy of God pulsates which, when planted within people, makes for formidable accomplishment. We know that energy to be originated by the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead. p. 215

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SACRED FIRE

George Washington's Sacred Fire by Peter A. Lillback
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an excellent book for those who want to know more about our first President's faith. It is very long but worth the read. The author does a great job using first source documents. I am very happy to report that without a doubt President George Washington was a believer in our Lord Jesus Christ! The book has ten appendixes and the endnotes start on page 959 and go through 1155.  The author, Peter A. Lillback, did much research for this fantastic book! I highly recommend it.


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Here are just a few of the great quotes from the book:

The highest message of the [Washington] monument at its very pinnacle declares, “Laus Deo” or “Praise to God!” Similarly, the many inner messages of the monument that are found chiseled in stone along the ever-rising stairs, such as, “Search the Scriptures,” “Holiness to the Lord,” “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” are left unread, since the mandated way to the top is by speeding elevator, and the daunting and contemplative walk up the stairs is typically closed. p. 192

And most interestingly for the new nation, it included an order for the celebration of July Fourth. The Service for July 4^th was listed as “A Form of Prayer and Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for the inestimable Blessings of Religious and Civil Liberty; to be used yearly Fourth of July” and included the following prayer:

O God, whose Name is excellent in all the earth, and thy glory above the heaven, who as on this day didst inspire and direct the hearts of our delegates in Congress, to lay the perpetual foundation of peace, liberty, and safety; we bless and adore thy glorious Majesty, for this thy loving kindness and providence. And we humbly pray that the devout sense of this signal mercy may renew and increase in us a spirit of love and thankfulness to thee its only author, a spirit of peaceable submission to the laws and government of our country, and a spirit of fervent zeal for our holy religion. Which thou hast preserved and secured to us and our posterity. May we improve these inestimable blessing for the advancement of religion, liberty, and science throughout this land, till the wilderness and solitary place be glad through us, and the desert rejoice and blossom as the rose. This we beg through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. pp. 300-301

 “The most sublime picture in American history is of George Washington on his knees in the snow at Valley Forge. That image personifies a people who know that it is not enough to depend on our own courage and goodness; we must also seek help from God, our Father and Preserver.” ~Ronald Reagan p. 397

As surprising as it sounds in a secular America, the first act of the first Congress was to pray, despite a myriad of Christian denominations represented. This prayer not only began in America, but it began the continuing congressional tradition of prayer and the work of chaplains among our government officials. p. 486

THAT it is an indispensable duty which we owe to God, our country, ourselves and posterity, by all lawful ways and means in our power to maintain, defend and preserve these civil and religious rights and liberties for which many of our fathers fought, bled and died, and to hand them down entire to future generations. (emphasis ours)  ~Continental Congress

Here is what the commander-in-chief [George Washington] ordered on July 4, 1775:

The General most earnestly requires and expects a due observance of those articles of war established for the government of the army, which forbid profane cursing, swearing, and drunkenness. And in like manner he requires and expects of all officers and soldiers, not engaged in actual duty, a punctual attendance on Divine service, to implore the blessing of Heaven upon the means used for our safety and defense. p. 551

The president (Washington) wrote in his Farewell Address, “Can it be, that Providence has not connected the permanent felicity of a Nation with its virtue? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human Nature.” p. 551

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The Screen Greats: Ronald Reagan

ronald reagan [ the screen greats] by Janice Anderson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book reviews the movies that Ronald Reagan was in. It is a little bit choppy. I think if Anderson would have divided the movies into sections instead of running them together it would have been a better read. It is hard to believe that Reagan was in so many movies and TV shows. The list below contains all the movies and TV shows that Reagan was in. Please note some are clips of him when he became President. If you are a Reagan fan then you will enjoy this book.

Filmography
Actor (78 titles)
1996
Talking with David Frost (TV series)
– Five Presidents (1996)

1964-1965
Death Valley Days (TV series)
Bear River Smith / Charles Poston / David Farragut / …
– A City Is Born (1965) … Charles Poston
– No Place for a Lady (1965) … William Burt
– The Lawless Have Laws (1965) … Lt. Col. Martin Burke
– Temporary Warden (1965) … Warden Hume
– No Gun Behind His Badge (1965) … Bear River Smith
See all 8 episodes »

1964
Kraft Suspense Theatre (TV series)
Judge Howard R. Stimming
– A Cruel and Unusual Night (1964) … Judge Howard R. Stimming

1964
The Killers
Jack Browning

1963
Wagon Train (TV series)
Capt. Paul Winters
– The Fort Pierce Story (1963) … Capt. Paul Winters

1963
Heritage of Splendor (short)
Narrator

1954-1962
G.E. True Theater (TV series)
Paul Miller / Allan Richards / Captain Jeremy Davis / …
– My Dark Days: Part 2 (1962) … Paul Miller
– My Dark Days: Part 1 (1962) … Paul Miller
– Shadow of a Hero (1962) … Frank Foster
– The Wall Between (1962) … Sam Miller
– Money and the Minister (1961) … Rev. Theodore Carlisle
See all 34 episodes »

1961
The Dick Powell Theatre (TV series)
Rex Kent
– Who Killed Julie Greer? (1961) … Rex Kent

The Young Doctors
Narrator (voice)

Zane Grey Theater (TV series)
Maj. Will Sinclair
– The Long Shadow (1961) … Maj. Will Sinclair

1960
The DuPont Show with June Allyson (TV series)
Alan Royce
– The Way Home (1960) … Alan Royce

1957
Hellcats of the Navy
Cmdr. Casey Abbott (Captain, USS Starfish)

1956
General Electric Summer Originals (TV series)
– Jungle Trap (1956)

1955
Tennessee's Partner
Cowpoke

1954
Cattle Queen of Montana
Farrell

1953-1954
The Ford Television Theatre (TV series)
Lieutenant Commander Masterson / Steve Wentworth
– Beneath These Waters (1954) … Lieutenant Commander Masterson
– And Suddenly, You Knew (1953) … Steve Wentworth
– The First Born (1953)

1954
Prisoner of War
Webb Sloane

1953-1954
Schlitz Playhouse (TV series)
– The Edge of Battle (1954)
– The Jungle Trap (1954)
– The Doctor Comes Home (1953)

1953-1954
Lux Video Theatre (TV series)
Guest Host / Merle Fisher
– A Place in the Sun (1954) … Guest Host
– Message in a Bottle (1953) … Merle Fisher

1953
The Revlon Mirror Theater (TV series)
– Next Stop Bethlehem (1953)

The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (TV series)
Ronald Reagan
– Gracie Sees a Hold-Up/Johnny Velvet (1953) … Ronald Reagan

Medallion Theatre (TV series)
– A Job for Jimmy Valentine (1953)

Law and Order
Frame Johnson

Tropic Zone
Dan McCloud

1952
Hollywood Opening Night (TV series)
– The Priceless Gift (1952)

1952
She's Working Her Way Through College
Professor John Palmer

The Winning Team
Grover Cleveland Alexander

Hong Kong
Jeff Williams

1951
Bedtime for Bonzo
Prof. Peter Boyd

The Last Outpost
Capt. Vance Britten

1951
Storm Warning
Burt Rainey

The Big Truth (short)
Host/Narrator

1950
Nash Airflyte Theatre (TV series)
Tommy Blunt
– The Case of the Missing Lady (1950) … Tommy Blunt

Louisa
Harold 'Hal' Norton

1949
The Hasty Heart
Yank

The Girl from Jones Beach
Bob Randolph - Robert Benerik

Night Unto Night
John Galen

John Loves Mary
John Lawrence

1947
The Voice of the Turtle
Sergeant Bill Page

1947
That Hagen Girl
Tom Bates

Stallion Road
Larry Hanrahan

1943
This Is the Army
Johnny Jones (as Lt. Ronald Reagan)

1943
The Rear Gunner (short)
Lt. Ames

Cadet Classification (short)
Narrator

For God and Country (short)
Father Michael O'Keefe

1942
Beyond the Line of Duty (short)
Narrator (voice)

Desperate Journey
Flying Officer Johnny Hammond

Juke Girl
Steve Talbot

Mister Gardenia Jones (documentary short)
John Jones Jr. (aka Gardenia 'Deany' Jones)

Kings Row
Drake McHugh

1941
Nine Lives Are Not Enough
Matt Sawyer

International Squadron
Jimmy Grant

Million Dollar Baby
Peter 'Pete' Rowan

The Bad Man
Gilbert 'Gil' Jones

1940
Santa Fe Trail
George Custer

1940
Tugboat Annie Sails Again
Eddie Kent

Knute Rockne All American
George Gipp

Murder in the Air
Brass Bancroft, aka Steve Swenko and Steve Coe

An Angel from Texas
Marty Allen

Brother Rat and a Baby
Dan Crawford

1939
Smashing the Money Ring
Lt. 'Brass' Bancroft

The Angels Wash Their Faces
Deputy Dist. Atty. Patrick 'Pat' Remson

Hell's Kitchen
Jim Donohue

Naughty But Nice
Ed 'Eddie' Clark

Code of the Secret Service
Lt. 'Brass' Bancroft

Dark Victory
Alec

Secret Service of the Air
Lt. 'Brass' Bancroft

1938
Going Places
Jack Withering

Brother Rat
Dan Crawford

Girls on Probation
Neil Dillon

Boy Meets Girl
Radio announcer at premiere

The Amazing Dr. Clitterhouse
Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)

Cowboy from Brooklyn
Pat Dunn

Accidents Will Happen
Eric Gregg

Swing Your Lady
Jack Miller

Sergeant Murphy
Pvt. Dennis Reilley

1937
Hollywood Hotel
Radio Host at Premiere (uncredited)

1937
Love Is on the Air
Andy McCaine

Production Manager (1 title)
1954-1956
G.E. True Theater (TV series) (production supervisor: General Electric - 3 episodes)
– A Child Is Born (1956) (production supervisor: General Electric)
– The Martyr (1955) (production supervisor: General Electric)
– The Face Is Familiar (1954) (production supervisor: General Electric)


Soundtrack (2 titles)
1957
The Gisele MacKenzie Show (TV series)
– Episode #1.3 (1957) (performer: "I've Got a Crush on You" - uncredited, "You're the Top" - uncredited)

1939
Secret Service of the Air ("She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain When She Comes" - uncredited)

Producer (1 title)
1944
Resisting Enemy Interrogation (producer)

Music Department (1 title)
1941
Million Dollar Baby (musician: piano, "Die Walkirie" - uncredited)

Thanks (1 title)

Self (122 titles)

Archive Footage (304 titles)
2011
The Iron Lady
Himself

Vito (documentary)
Himself

The Republican Candidates Debate 2012 (TV movie)
Himself

2010-2011
Air Emergency (TV series documentary)

2011
Breakfast (TV series)

2011
Too Big to Fail (TV movie)
Himself

2011
The Apprentice (TV series)

Love Lust (TV series)

Reagan (documentary)
Himself

This Week (TV series)

2010
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood (TV mini-series documentary)

Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics (video documentary)
Himself

Fox News Reporting: The Right, All Along - The Rise, Fall and Future of Conservatism
Himself

Marijuana: A Chronic History (TV movie)
Himself

2009-2010
30 for 30 (TV series)

2005-2010
20 to 1 (TV series documentary)

2010
Let Me In
Himself (uncredited)

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (video documentary)
Himself

Magic and Bird (TV documentary)
Himself

Nuclear Tipping Point (documentary)
Himself

Countdown to Zero (documentary)
Himself

2009
50 años de (TV series)

Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura (TV series documentary)

House of Boys
Himself

Ronald Reagan, l'enfance d'un chef (TV documentary)
Himself

Capitalism: A Love Story (documentary)
Himself

Welcome to the 80's (TV series documentary)

2009
NASA: Triumph and Tragedy (TV series documentary)

When Medicine Got It Wrong (documentary)
Himself

Frontline (TV series documentary)

2007-2009
Memòries de la tele (TV series)

2009
Disco and Atomic War (documentary)
Himself

2009
Life on the Edge of a Bubble (video documentary)
Himself

A Call to Arms (documentary)
Himself

Comic Relief 2009 (TV movie)

Krugman ja Amerikan lamat (TV documentary)
Himself

2009
L'affaire Farewell, l'espion de la vengeance (TV movie)
Himself - US President

Iran and the West (TV series documentary)

Double Take (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

Looking Back to the Future (video documentary)
Himself

The Shock Doctrine (documentary)
Himself

Glenn Beck (TV series)

Law & Disorder: The Insanity Defense (documentary)
Himself

2008
NASCAR: The Ride of Their Lives (TV documentary)
Himself

Verdens morsomste mand (TV documentary)
Himself

Warner at War (TV documentary)

Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood (documentary)
Himself

Milk
Himself (uncredited)

The American Future: A History (TV mini-series documentary)

Fuel (documentary)
Himself - President of the United States

Hype: The Obama Effect (video documentary)
Himself

Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story (documentary)
Himself

Horizon (TV series documentary)

President Hollywood (TV documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

Planspiel Atomkrieg - Raketenpoker um die Nachrüstung (TV movie)
Himself

Earth: The Climate Wars (TV series documentary)

American Swing (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

Superpower (documentary)
Himself

Thank You, Mr. President: Helen Thomas at the White House (TV documentary)
Himself

Starz Inside: In the Gutter (TV documentary)
Himself

When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions (TV mini-series documentary)

Blood and Oil (video documentary)
Himself

You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (video documentary)
Himself - Interviewee

Catalunya.cat (TV documentary)
Himself

Desperately Seeking Paul McCartney (documentary)
Himself

Run for Your Life (documentary)
Himself

Bigger Stronger Faster* (documentary)
Himself

Cubs Forever: Celebrating 60 Years of WGN-TV and the Chicago Cubs (TV documentary)
Himself

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

William F. Buckley: Right from the Start (TV documentary)
Himself

The O'Reilly Factor (TV series)

The Year of Getting to Know Us
Himself (uncredited)

August
Himself (uncredited)

I.O.U.S.A. (documentary)
Himself

What Lies Beneath (video documentary short)
Himself

Jeremiah Wright Painting a Picture of US Aggression (video short)
Ronald Reagan

2007
El disco del año 07 (TV movie)
Himself

Close-up (TV series documentary)

Disneyland: Secrets, Stories, & Magic (video documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

How It Was: The Shooting of Ronald Reagan (TV documentary)
Himself

Heckler (documentary)
Himself

Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

Soviet War Scare 1983 (TV documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

E! True Hollywood Story (TV series documentary)

Mars Rising (TV series documentary)

Balls of Fury
Himself (uncredited)

The Kingdom
Himself (uncredited)

Hippies (TV documentary)
Himself

Live Free or Die Hard
Himself (uncredited)

First World (short)
Himself (archive sound)

Crude: The Incredible Journey of Oil (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

La tele de tu vida (TV series)

War Made Easy: How Presidents & Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death (documentary)
Himself

Larry King Live: The Greatest Interviews (video)
Himself

Underworld Histories (TV series)

The Trap: What Happened to Our Dream of Freedom (TV mini-series documentary)
Himself

2007
I Have Never Forgotten You: The Life & Legacy of Simon Wiesenthal (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

2007
Manufacturing Dissent: Uncovering Michael Moore (documentary)
Himself

2007
American Drug War: The Last White Hope (documentary)
Himself

The Final Report (TV series documentary)

2006
La imagen de tu vida (TV series)

Chirac (TV documentary)
Himself

Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film (documentary)
Himself

The Tripper
Himself

Have You Heard from Johannesburg?: Apartheid and the Club of the West (documentary)
Himself

Never Sleep Again: The Making of 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (video documentary)
Himself

...So Goes the Nation (documentary)
Himself

This Is England
Himself (uncredited)

The Curse of Superman (TV documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

Wanderlust (TV documentary)
Himself

The Delegate (documentary short)
Himself

Best Ever Spitting Image (TV documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

The Erroneous Earth Kitchen (documentary short)
Himself

A/k/a Tommy Chong (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

The Drug Years (TV mini-series documentary)

Dans la peau de Jacques Chirac (documentary)
Himself

Hammer & Tickle (documentary)
Himself

American Fugitive: The Truth About Hassan (documentary)
Himself

American Hardcore (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

Maxed Out: Hard Times, Easy Credit and the Era of Predatory Lenders (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

Declassified (TV series documentary)

War Stories with Oliver North (TV series documentary)

Challenger: The Untold Story (TV documentary)
Himself

An Inconvenient Truth (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

Who Killed the Electric Car? (documentary)
Himself

2005
La Marató 2005 (TV special)
Himself

50 y más (TV movie)
Himself

2005
They Made History (TV series)

The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame... (TV series)

80s (TV series documentary)

Iluminados por el fuego
Himself

Found Footage Festival Volume 1: Live in Brooklyn (video)
Himself

Dan Aykroyd Unplugged on UFOs (documentary)
Himself (as President Ronald Reagan)

James Dean: Forever Young (documentary)
Himself

NBC Nightly News (TV series)

Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years (documentary short)
Himself (uncredited)

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (documentary)
Himself

WWE Hall of Fame 2005 (video documentary)
Himself

Conquering Space: The Moon and Beyond (video documentary)
Himself, President of the United States

Letter to the President (video documentary)
Himself

The Last Mogul (TV special documentary)
Himself

The 77th Annual Academy Awards (TV special)
Memorial Tribute

11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (TV special)
Himself Memorial Tribute)

1998-2005
The American Experience (TV series documentary)

2005
Michael Jackson's Boys (TV documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

The Presidents (TV documentary)
Himself

2005
USA the Movie (video)
Himself (voice)

Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure (TV movie)
Himself - On TV (uncredited)

MegaStructures (TV series documentary)

Hyvinvointivaltion loppu? (TV documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

Why We Fight (documentary)
Himself

2004
Hardball with Chris Matthews (TV series)

Retrosexual: The 80's
Himself

Husker du... (TV series documentary)

Saddam Hussein: le procès que vous ne verrez pas (TV documentary)
Himself

Inside the U.S. Secret Service (TV documentary)
Himself

Celsius 41.11: The Temperature at Which the Brain... Begins to Die (documentary)
Himself

Broadway: The American Musical (TV series documentary)

With God on Our Side: George W. Bush and the Rise of the Religious Right in America (TV documentary)
Himself

Star Trek: Enterprise (TV series)

Fahrenhype 9/11 (video documentary)
Himself

And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop
Himself

Days That Shook the World (TV series documentary)

Rated 'R': Republicans in Hollywood (TV documentary)
Himself

Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (documentary)
Himself

Strip Search (TV movie)
Himself

2000-2004
Modern Marvels (TV series documentary)

2004
Neverland: The Rise and Fall of the Symbionese Liberation Army (documentary)
Himself

The Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear (TV mini-series documentary)

2003
Unsolved History (TV series documentary)

Imelda (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

Michael Jackson: Number Ones (video)
Himself (segment "Man in the Mirror")

100 Years of the World Series (video documentary)
Himself

'Weird Al' Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection (video)
Himself ('Christmas at Ground Zero') (uncredited)

Sex at 24 Frames Per Second (video documentary)
Himself

The Agronomist (documentary)
Himself

Blueprint: New York City (TV mini-series documentary)
Himself

101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment (TV documentary)
Himself

Hell's Highway: The True Story of Highway Safety Films (documentary)
Himself

Outlaw Comic: The Censoring of Bill Hicks (TV documentary)
Himself

CIA: Guerres secrètes (TV documentary)
Himself

Big Bucks: The Press Your Luck Scandal (TV documentary)
Himself - U.S. President

Tupac: Resurrection (documentary)
Himself

A Decade Under the Influence (documentary)
Himself

X-Rated Ambition: The Traci Lords Story (TV documentary)
Himself

Altered Statesmen: Ronald Reagan (TV documentary)

Chaplin Today: Monsieur Verdoux (TV documentary short)
Himself (uncredited)

2002
The Weather Underground (documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

Naqoyqatsi (documentary)
Himself - Assassination Attempt (uncredited)

Pink Floyd The Wall Redux
Himself (uncredited)

We Get to Win This Time (video documentary short)
Himself

Playboy: Inside the Playboy Mansion (TV documentary)
Himself

Fast Forward (short)
Himself

The Cockettes (documentary)
Himself

Guts and Glory (video short)
Himself

Air Force One (TV documentary)
Himself

Afghanistan: Land in Crisis (video documentary short)
Himself

1992-2001
Biography (TV series documentary)

2001
Walt: The Man Behind the Myth (TV documentary)
Himself

Prozac Nation
Himself (uncredited)

Ronald Reagan: The Hollywood Years, the Presidential Years (video documentary)
Himself

Blood of the Vikings
Himself (uncredited)

2000
Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (TV movie)
Himself (uncredited)

Hooked: Illegal Drugs & How They Got That Way - Cocaine, the Third Scourge (TV documentary)
Himself

Hooked: Illegal Drugs & How They Got That Way - LSD, Ecstasy, and the Raves (TV documentary)
Himself

American Psycho
Himself - Giving Speech on Iran-Contra Scandal (uncredited)

The American President (TV series documentary)

Challenger: Go for Launch (TV documentary)
Himself

1999
ABC 2000: The Millennium (TV documentary)

Biography of the Millennium: 100 People - 1000 Years (TV mini-series documentary)
Himself - #85

Grass (documentary)
Himself

Killer Sun (TV documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

Cher: Live in Concert (video documentary)
Himself

According to Occam's Razor (documentary)
Himself

Danske drømme - en TV-historie om det moderne Danmark fortalt af Leif Davidsen (TV series documentary)

1998
Brimstone (TV series)

The Sleep Room
Himself (uncredited)

Dynasty: The Nehru-Gandhi Story (TV documentary)
Himself (uncredited)

Secrets of the CIA (TV documentary)

The above was taken from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001654/

Note the book only covered the movies before Reagan was elected President.


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