Tim Griffin, my son, was a member of the 212th Congress of the United States, a member of the House of Representatives. At present he is the ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ARKANSAS He was Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas and is a Colonel in the Army. Needless to say I am very proud of him, his family and their sacrifice. I am glad to be an American and am grateful for this land that has nurtured me and given me so many opportunities over the years. Many of my family have been military and served for our freedom.
It was in the early 70’s that I began a ministry we called “Tour America” with the intent of taking young students on the site of the American story and teach it’s meaning first hand, up close and personal. This all began when Tim was in elementary school and I was going to Boston for a wedding at the Harvard University Chapel. While there Tim and myself traveled to Plymouth, Lexington, Concord and the Boston area. Out of that exciting trip came the determination to return, adding Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington DC. Thus the senior trip at Carolina Christian Day School became our first Tour America. Tim though still in elementary school went with me once again and his excitement about America and her history became a passion with him. The die was cast and his determination to be a part of the American vision and it’s government was growing in his heart. He has told me often how this impacted his young life.
When we moved to Arkansas in 1980, Tim and myself introduced the Tour America ministry to the youth of Magnolia, Arkansas. Their excitement was equally great, having never traveled to any of these places, but only read of them. The rest is history. We sold BBQ, washed cars and did many different chores earning the money to make the trip a reality. We outfitted a seventeen passenger Dodge van with a carry rack on its roof and then contacted churches at all the places we were to travel and secured permission to spend the night in their facilities. We were to carry all our luggage on the roof of the van and travel with seventeen youth and adult sponsors for a two week tour. The memories of those trips continued and we carried fifteen of our university students on the same trip the following year. My memories of those trips will never be forgotten: Williamsburg,Jamestown,Plymouth, Boston, Salem,NY City, Philadelphia, Washington DC! We discovered America and loved her dearly!
I remember the excitement of Tim when a high school student, and the youth as they discovered both the beauty and greatness of This Land / Our Land! I am reminded of this as I return from standing in the Capitol and Tim’s being sworn into Congress on my dad’s Bible, visiting his office and the plaque declaring. “Tim Griffin / House of Representatives”.
I recalled the memories of my trips to India and on my return staying with Tim, a student at Oxford in England, and then Tulane Law School, and our fun in New Orleans.
He served in the White House as Director of Political Affairs and personal Counsel to George Bush. I was impressed with his maturity and growth. He would join the military becoming a JAG, advancing in rank. His wedding, his beautiful wife and now his precious children. I watched him run his campaign in Little Rock and was impressed by his positive, straight forward approach, refusing to answer his critics and attack personalities. He stayed on course and defined the issues with conviction.
All these memories have walked through my mind this year as I have turned 87. I share them with you not out of arrogance or pride but with a great sense of blessing and humility. WE MUST PRAY FOR OURSELVES, EACH OTHER, OUR LEADERSHIP AND THIS NATION! God has always honored a remnant of people who would honor Him and allow His glory to stand above everything else. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the know-ledge of the truth. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!
The following prayer was given at Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia, on September 7, 1774 is as follows:
Be Thou present O God of Wisdom and direct the counsel of this Honorable Assembly; enable them to settle all things on the best and surest foundations; that the scene of blood may be speedily closed; that Order, Harmony and Peace may be effectually restored, and the Truth and Justice, Religion and Piety, prevail and flourish among the people. Preserve the health of their bodies, and the vigor of their minds, shower down on them and the millions they here represent, such temporal Blessings as Thou seest expedient for them in this world, and crown them with everlasting Glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Savior, Amen.
America is not a Christian nation but a nation of believers who have trusted in Jesus Christ the way, the truth and the life. It is this remnant God blesses and will continue to bless. John Burke said, “all evil has to do to triumph is for good men to do nothing” and an old sage declared “that it is better to light one candle than to curse the dark”. Solomon declared, “righteousness exalts a nation and sin is a reproach to any people.” The need is great and we must pray more, complain less, listen more and talk less, seizing the opportunity to declare God’s love and grace. I am convinced that it is necessary to TALK MORE TO GOD ABOUT MEN THAN TO MEN ABOUT GOD, BUT FOR GOD’S SAKE AND GLORY LET US DO BOTH UNDER THE SPIRIT’S GUIDANCE.
So-Be-It!
Listen to Tim Griffin’s speeches on YouTube! THE PICTURE IS THE MAGNOLIA TOUR AMERICA” GROUP IN PHILADELPHIA WHEN TIM WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL IN MAGNOLIA, ARKANSAS!