Many churches have two flags. The American flag and the Christian flag. By having both, we are saying that we are both American people and Christian people.

We all know the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag, (if you don’t, shame on you.)

But do you know, or remember, the Pledge to the Christian flag? Well here it is:

“I pledge allegiance to the Cross of my Lord Jesus Christ, and to the faith for which it stands. One Savior, King Eternal, with mercy and grace for all.”

Both flags have the same three colors, but they mean different things.

Blood is red. Jesus gave His Lifeblood on the cross. That is why the cross on our Christian flag is red.

The royal blue color around the cross is to remind us, that Jesus is the King. King over the entire world!

The white color tells us that God, through Jesus, has made each of us pure and clean. This part of the flag is the largest part. There are a lot of people in this world, and Jesus makes all who believe in Him, clean and holy.

         Richard B. Leppi

         Oceanside

George Bush, in his inaugural address, made it clear that he and the person who helped him write it, had certain theological views. Bush endorsed five Biblical doctrines.

He endorsed the doctrine of God, that is the God who is described in the Bible, as Creator: “The Maker of heaven and earth...” These words not only affirm a personal Being who made all, but by implication they also refute the evolutionist’s theory that we all come from slime. Bush thus wielded a two-edged sword. Bush also endorsed the doctrine of God’s sovereignty: “Under the rule of a just God...” God rules over all that He has made and is constantly making. He sustains them and brings all things and persons to the ends which He intends.

Thirdly, God is just: “The rule of a just God...” God is not partial in His judgments. He has no bias. His judgments are based upon His perfect righteousness. This, of course, is in stark contrast to many of the judgments men make, quite often in government.

Fourthly, Bush indicated that he believes in the image of God in man: “They bear the image of the Maker of heaven and earth...” Man is more than mere animal. Man has a soul: a soul in the image of God who is spirit - made to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him. In this, Bush also echoed Augustine who taught that the soul is restless until it rests in God.

George Bush also indicated that he believes in a heaven: “The Maker of heaven and earth...” He believes that there is an eternity which may be spent in heaven which, of course, is the opposite of hell. The Bible teaches about both.

In all of this, our President reflected the faith of many of our Fathers who gave us our Declaration of Independence.

We need this in our leader, for true liberty is based upon these Biblical facts.

         Wallace A. Bell

         Oceanside