The Schoolhouse and the Republic: The Crisis of Moral Education in America The American experiment in self-government has always depended on more than laws and elections. It has depended on the formation of character. The founders understood that liberty cannot endure if citizens are not taught virtue. The question before us today is whether moral education in America still forms citizens—or merely informs consumers. Moral Education in America and the Survival of the Republic

"I know I'm forgetting something... but what?" Between work tasks, home responsibilities, birthdays, and appointments, there's a lot to keep track of. Memory is unreliable, and I know it. So when life gets hard, it's natural to wonder if God functions the same way: has He forgotten about me? Isaiah 49:15 gives one of the most direct assurances in Scripture: "I will never forget you." God doesn't hedge. He simply states it as fact.

The Family: Why Family and Freedom Rise or Fall Together No institution has come under more sustained assault in modern America than the family—and this is no accident. As understood in the Judeo-Christian tradition and assumed by America’s Founders, the family stands as the primary barrier between the individual and the totalizing claims of the state. Strengthen the family, and you cultivate citizens capable of self-government. Undermine it, and you weaken the moral structur

Every conversation has two roads. One is easy — play it safe, say what they want to hear, or take the bait. The other is harder. It's the one where I stop and pray, Lord, yours is the path less traveled. Holy Spirit, give me the words. Jeremiah walked that road. So did Jesus. Speaking God's words faithfully tends to cost you something. But our reward isn't meant to be collected in full in this life — and the enemy's power is borrowed time.

The Pulpit and the Revolution: The Black Robe Regiment and American Independence Modern historians often portray the American Revolution as a secular Enlightenment project driven by abstract philosophy divorced from religious conviction. Nothing could be further from the truth. Before it was fought on battlefields, the Revolution was preached from pulpits. At the center of that movement stood what British loyalists derisively called the Black Robe Regiment —colonial clergy wh

Most of us learned to walk by falling down. Nobody said to a stumbling toddler, "Walking just isn't for you." Falling was part of learning. Lent works the same way. Maybe you're a week in and you've already "failed." You ate the thing you gave up. You scrolled the app you deleted. But God is not grading your fasting. Lent fasting and prayer were never meant to be a willpower contest — they were meant to draw your heart closer to the Father.

The Foundation of Liberty: Why Faith and Virtue in America Still Matter The architects of American independence understood a truth modern society is eager to forget: liberty cannot survive without virtue, and virtue cannot be sustained without faith. This was not sentimental piety but the accumulated wisdom of Scripture, classical thought, and lived experience. The American experiment in self-government assumed a people capable of moral restraint. Remove that assumption, and

Benjamin Franklin warned that America’s republic could only endure if its people were willing to keep it. Today, that warning feels urgent. This devotional invites readers to rediscover the moral and spiritual foundations the Founders believed were essential to liberty—and to consider what is at stake if we abandon them.

When we’re exhausted, it’s tempting to treat church like an optional calendar event—but a “quick fix” won’t nourish the soul. Like one potato chip can’t satisfy real hunger, extra sleep can’t cure spiritual weariness. Jesus invites us to come to Him for true rest in Jesus (Matthew 11:28), and He often meets us in the gathered body through the Word, encouragement, and worship that lifts our eyes beyond our circumstances. This week, choose the meal—not the chip. Come ready to r

In 1776, Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" sparked a revolution by articulating self-evident truths. Today, we face a similar disconnect—we talk about returning to foundational values but haven't actually studied them. The Founders' Quill launches President's Day 2026 as a weekly series rediscovering what the Founding Fathers believed about faith, family, government, and our relationship with the Creator. These aren't just historical ideas—they're living principles that shaped A

Philip's immediate obedience to God's call teaches us about spiritual preparedness. Like preparing a go-bag for unexpected moments, we need to stay spiritually alert and ready to respond when God prompts us. Philip didn't demand details before obeying—he simply went. His readiness positioned him for a divine appointment that carried the gospel across continents. God still works this way today, prompting us toward encounters we can't predict. The question isn't whether He'll c

"Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."" ~Luke 9:62 In Disney's animated film Meet the Robinsons , the titular family's motto is "Keep moving forward." According to numerous examples throughout Scripture, that should be our slogan, too. In this passage, many people are coming to Jesus, asking to follow Him...but they have a few things to do first. This is an instance where history repeats itself because Elisha a

"we are more than conquerors" ~Romans 8:37 Why do we resist doing what we know to be right? Jesus gives us the answer before he is arrested: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matt 26:41). In my mind I am gung-ho to be the best person I can be today but when it comes down too it…I fail. I choose what I know isn’t right. I’ll figure out ways to justify my behavior even though in the end lying to myself does

"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth" ~Colossians 3:2 Between the second and third decade of the 19th century, Helen Howarth Lemmel was inspired by Isabella Lilias Trotter's tract, "Focussed," to write the song "The Heavenly Vision," which is more commonly known as "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus." I'm sure many of you know the song well. The tract is a convicting work I encourage you to read here . In both the tract and the song, the words "strange" and "dim

"in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing" ~Colossians 1:6 Did you know the universe is constantly expanding? Do you know why? Well, neither do I, but if you could travel to the farthest reaches of the cosmos, you would never find the end. In Paul's letter to the Colossians, he reminds them that from the day they learned of the Gospel, it has blossomed in their life. Now, it is expanding throughout the whole world! Something fascinating is happening here. The Gosp

“ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” ~John 15:4 Before astronauts leave the ship, they tether themselves before they do what's called a spacewalk. As they emerge into the cold, quiet space, they can rest assured as long as the astronauts stay tethered to the station, they'll be okay. But if their lifeline breaks…they will likely stray very far from the sourc

"One day the trees went out to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us." ~Judges 9:8 The book of Judges is fraught with God's people struggling with an identity crisis; do they stick with their LORD as their leader or finagle their way into having an earthly king hand down his dictates? Instead of getting a King, they were commanded by numerous Judges, some good, some bad. Because the people of Israel wanted to be like every other nation

"if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." ~Matthew 18:19-20 Back in grade school, I never really liked working on group projects. I don't know why I recoiled when the teacher assigned partners. Maybe because I expected not everyone would pull their own weight. I expected working together would be more of a

"Send men to reconnoiter the land of Canaan" ~Numbers 13:2 Quick, say reconnoiter five times fast! Could you do it? Neither could I. The word comes from the early 18th century: from the obsolete French 'reconnoître,' which came from the Latin 'recognoscere' meaning to 'know again.' It's where we get our modern-day word reconnaissance from. Why does the All-Knowing God command princes to scout out their new home when He already knows what's there? These leaders of the 12 tribe

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field" ~ Matthew 13:44 What does this parable teach us about the value of the Kingdom of Heaven? It shows us that the Kingdom is worth more than anything else; it is a priceless gift God offers us through his grace and mercy. But how do we find this treasure? Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you wi