Happy Independence Day!
On this day, 248 years ago, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, and 56 men would later sign that incredible document. Among them were farmers, lawyers, merchants, ministers, a printer, and a musician. Their ages ranged from 26 to 70 years old, and they were either born in America or halfway across the world in Ireland, Scotland, or England. One thing they all had in common was courage.
They were courageous enough to sign on to a document that would surely mean death if they were captured by the Royal Army. They had the courage to stand up for what is right, and to fight for the freedom that we love today. Millions of Americans have enjoyed the greatest country in the world because of the courageous actions of so many great American heroes, that all began with these men.
It’s important to remember that as we reflect on this holiday and think about what Patriotism means to each of us. It’s not simply a love for one’s country, but the courage to stand up for what is right in the face of imminent danger. The courage that was shown by those 56 men, 248 years ago.
Happy Independence Day!
Things that Last
It’s Tuesday, and I am sitting in a surgery staging area as I write this blog post. It’s one of those little ER-type spaces surrounded by a curtain, with plugs and hose connectors of all colors adorning the wall like some weird Christmas decorations, and a rather uncomfortable looking chair with levers that I imagine could turn you into a walking pretzel if used incorrectly.
I’m here because I took a member of our family for an outpatient procedure this morning; one that is typically characterized as relatively routine. I’m sure it’s going well, but I would argue that anytime you’re under anesthesia on an operating room table, I don’t think it qualifies as “routine”, at least not in my world. That said, I’ll admit that a big part of my perspective was shaped after we nearly lost Ruth during surgery a few years back.
I’ve been mulling all this over while bells chime and hospital staff peek in every 10 minutes to see if I really don’t want some Jello or Graham Crackers. Eventually something struck me, albeit a slightly melancholy thought. There is very little that lasts beyond us here on earth when we are taken up to glory to be with our Lord. As a result, if we can identify things that truly make lasting impacts during our lifetime and beyond, we should focus on them. So, what things might fall into that category?
The first thing that outlasts our time here on earth is clearly our family. They are the core around which all else during our life is built; the key element that guides and shapes who we are while alive. Lord willing, our children, grandchildren, and generations to come will be around for many years, and while they continue to expand our ever-growing list of descendants, the work we did on behalf of our family is never wasted. This is one important reason we are called North Dakota Family Alliance.
That is not to say we always see the fruits of investing in our family. It is easy to sometimes get discouraged and think that our time and effort are having no positive impact, but keep in mind that we can only see the short-term and external effects, not the impacts on them as eternal beings. We often hear that we are not called to be successful, but to be obedient. Investing in our family is something that lasts, whether or not we see it.
The second thing lasting beyond our time here is the relationships we have with those outside our family. We all have friends and others who know us and whose lives we touch. These interactions outlive us, and therefore, matter far beyond what we currently experience. As with our families, it is our values, hopes, and vision for the future that will inspire others long after we are gone.
A third thing that will last beyond our lifetime is what we’ve accomplished. Whether we help feed others through our farming, design homes, provide clean drinking water, pave roads, or help codify our values into law, these things will last. But only to a point. Eventually, these too will fade away, so the important thing is not what you accomplished, but how you accomplished it. It will be remembered if you were a person of vision who inspired people, or if you always looked for faults in others and dashed their dreams. It will be remembered whether you showed love toward others or animosity.
I’m sure there are other things that last beyond our time here on Earth, but these are the ones that immediately come to mind. However, did you notice a theme across all of them? Each one is about relationships. How we interact with others, be it our family, friends, or coworkers – that is what lasts.
So what is the takeaway? I encourage you to work hard and be happy, as you glorify God in your job and build things, balance the books, or stock shelves. When God provides material possessions, be thankful and accept them. Make art, improve your environment, contribute to the good of society around you, pass on your business to those who will make it prosper, tell stories and teach life lessons to your grandchildren, and do much more. These are good things. But remember that it is your interaction with the eternal beings you encounter every day that will ultimately be the most impactful legacy you can leave. So go make a difference in someone’s life today and build your legacy – build something that will last.
Election Day
by Jacob Thomsen
This past Tuesday I went to a local church to cast my votes in our North Dakota primary election. Many North Dakotans across the state, 119,452 in total, went to churches, local community centers, courthouses, and the like to cast their votes. It was interesting these past few months seeing the candidates campaign, and campaign hard. It was great to be able to meet many of the candidates on different occasions and see some of the differences they had.
One of the things I love so much about elections is that they push us to become educated on contemporary issues in the political sphere, and act on our convictions. We must be educated about who we vote for and what they believe so that we, as part of a constitutional republic, can vote for someone who will represent our beliefs the most.
For candidates, the primary election day is the culmination of many miles logged from visiting with potential constituents, putting up signs, advertising, and working hard to win votes. The day of the election is a long day of waiting, to find out late that night whether or not all your hard work has paid off. For the candidates who win, the work is far from over. There are still five more months until the general election.
Whether you were a candidate or a voter on Tuesday, the most important thing to remember about election day is that God is ultimately in control. Whether or not the people you wanted to win succeeded, whether you as a candidate won or did not, we rejoice in the fact that God is in control. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose,” Romans 8:28.
Now, we prepare for the general election on November 5th. These next five months will probably be long, tense, and have plenty of annoying political ads and arguments. But remember that we are the children of a Father who loves us and cares about us more than anyone else ever could. He holds us in His hands and wants what is best for us, so remember to put your trust in Him.
Unity of Purpose
Last week, NDFA held its 2024 Faith, Family, and Freedom Dessert Gala in Fargo, and it was incredible! Hundreds of you, our ministry partners, attended the event. You brought family members and friends. You listened to our vision for North Dakota, and were inspired and entertained by Tony Perkins, President of Family Research Council. We also had special music by Alivia Hoke. Alivia is a recent graduate from the University of Jamestown, and she gave a tremendous musical performance that evening. It was truly a wonderful event.
Among all these great features of the gala, something stands out to me personally from our time together: fellowship. There were hundreds of Christians unified in purpose and values. Instead of emphasizing the differences among us, the evening focused on the shared biblical values we all have. I had a chance to finally meet many of you, and it was great hearing your willingness to stand with us on important issues. The comradery we felt as we shared similar life experiences and challenges was very apparent. I am reminded of Psalm 133:1, where it says, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity.”
We all feel the attacks by those who despise our values and way of life, but at the gala, we were among friends. We had pastors in the room, business leaders, candidates for various offices, sitting legislators, and of course hundreds of you, our faithful ministry partners. They were all there because they are fighting to make North Dakota a state that fulfills our shared vision: a state where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished. Together, by the grace of God, we saw last legislative session that we can do amazing things for God’s kingdom when we work together, and we hope to do the same in the upcoming 2025 session.
I know some of you were not able to attend the gala for various reasons, even though you would have loved to be there. To you I say, there’s always next year. In the meantime, please continue to pray for the work of NDFA, respond to our action alerts during the upcoming 2025 legislative session, and consider contributing to our ministry if you value our work. I encourage you to visit our website and review our Statement of Faith and Values. I’m pretty certain they align well with your own.
We enjoyed a wonderful time at our gala, and I cherish the time we spent together. Your support and encouragement mean the world to us, and we pray God’s blessing on all of you and on our state of North Dakota.
2024 NDFA Dessert Gala Ticket Sales ending soon!
The 2024 Faith, Family, and Freedom Dessert Gala hosted by North Dakota Family Alliance is happening soon! The Gala will be on Tuesday, May 28th at 7pm at the Delta by Marriot Hotel in Fargo. Our keynote speaker for the event will be Tony Perkins, President of Family Research Council, with special music provided by Alivia Hoke!
Ticket sales are ending very soon! Get your tickets HERE.
For table sponsorships please call 701-355-6425
This event sold out last year, so get tickets while you can!
About Tony Perkins
Tony Perkins is Family Research Council's fourth and longest-serving president, joining the organization in August of 2003. Described as a legislative pioneer by the national media, Tony has established himself as an innovative pro-life and pro-family policy and political leader since first being elected to office in 1996.
Recognized as the leading conservative and pro-life voice in the Louisiana Legislature, Tony was a tireless advocate for the family. He had a significant impact on Louisiana politics as a state representative and as a candidate for the United States Senate in 2002. While in the Legislature, he authored numerous other policy initiatives, including:
First state Covenant Marriage law in 1997
State Family Impact Statement, requiring state agencies to consider the impact of rules and regulations on families.
Comprehensive Abortion Clinic regulations
Genetic Nondiscrimination Act
Public School Internet Filtering requirement
Expansion of Louisiana Department of Corrections partnership with faith-based organizations to reduce recidivism rates.
During his tenure as FRC's president, Tony has substantially deepened the organization's influence on Capitol Hill. In May 2018, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appointed Tony to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), where he served as both Chair and Vice Chair. Tony has also expanded the organization's reach across the nation by building a major network of pastors and churches, encouraging them to impact the culture by thinking nationally, but acting locally.
Tony is an ordained minister and remains active in Christian ministries. He is a board member of Caring to Love Ministries, one of Louisiana's largest pregnancy resource centers. Tony is the immediate past president of the Council for National Policy.
An effective communicator, Tony is the host of a daily, nationally syndicated radio show, Washington Watch with Tony Perkins. He frequently appears as a guest on national news programs and talk shows and has been a guest speaker for organizations across the country. He is the author of No Fear: Real Stories of a Courageous New Generation Standing for Truth.
A veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a former police officer, Tony brings a unique perspective to the public policy process. In addition to domestic law enforcement, he oversaw the training of hundreds of international police officers as the general manager for a Washington, D.C.-based firm contracted by the U.S. Department of State to provide training and services in anti-terrorism.
Tony holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University, a Master of Public Administration degree from Louisiana State University, and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Liberty University.
He and his wife Lawana have been married since 1986 and have five children.
About Alivia Hoke
Alivia Hoke is a recent graduate from the University of Jamestown where she earned her bachelor’s degree with a Major in Music Education and a Minor in Character in Leadership. Alivia is pursuing her passion for music and is teaching elementary music starting in the fall of 2024. In college, Alivia studied vocal performance and gave three recitals during her time at the University of Jamestown. She also participated and played lead roles in several of the University’s musical productions. Alivia is full of excitement for her future of sharing her love of music with others.
We look forward to welcoming Tony to North Dakota, and hope you’ll make plans to join us at the 2024 Faith, Family, and Freedom Dessert Gala!