Our Country May Not Be Perfect…
If you listened only to the headlines, you might think America was falling apart. Yet every year, people from every corner of the globe risk everything for the opportunity to live here. That raises an interesting question.
If America is so terrible, why do so many people still want to come here?
Don't misunderstand me. I know our country isn't perfect. We've made mistakes. We have problems that need to be addressed, and we should never stop striving to become a better nation. But despite all our flaws, America continues to represent hope and opportunity for millions of people around the world.
I believe in the American Dream—not because it's just a slogan, but because I've lived it.
When I was fourteen years old, I started working at a Sunoco service station. I've had some kind of job ever since. I have been blessed to never have accepted government assistance or even an unemployment check.
When Jean and I got married in 1976, we weren't exactly rolling in money. We had $150 in savings, a couple of used cars that loved gasoline a little too much, and a tiny basement apartment that rented for $150 a month. I was a police officer, Jean worked in an office, and together we simply did what millions of other Americans have done—we worked hard.
We saved as much as we could and purchased our first home when we were just twenty-two. Over the years, we bought houses, renovated them, sold them, started businesses, and invested in rental properties.
Many evenings, after working all day, Jean and I would load up our six-month-old daughter and head to one of our remodeling projects. While she slept, Jean helped me install kitchen cabinets or assisted with various tasks as needed.
It wasn't glamorous, but it was rewarding.
Later, God called me into ministry. What began as bi-vocational ministry eventually became full-time, and over the years we've had the privilege of planting churches, launching campuses, and seeing hundreds of people place their faith in Christ and get baptized.
Looking back, I can honestly say every step of the journey has been sustained by God's grace.
When I look at this picture of our home, I don't see a house that represents success. I see a reminder of God's faithfulness. Everything we have ultimately belongs to Him.
Could we have experienced these opportunities somewhere else? Perhaps. But I know this: God chose to plant our family here, in America, and I will always be grateful for that blessing.
No, America isn't perfect. No nation is.
But it is still a place where hard work matters, faith can be lived openly, dreams can become reality, and countless people continue to believe tomorrow can be better than today.
That's why people still come.
That's why I'm thankful.
And that's why I'm proud to call America home.
God has blessed my family far beyond what we deserve, and one of His greatest gifts has been allowing us to live in this remarkable country.
God bless America. 🇺🇸
Pastor Larry and Jean, I also am blessed beyond words to have you Larry as one of the most influential pastors that I’ve been blessed to know. GOD bless you both.
Phil and I need to have you and Jean over for dinner sometime to exchange stories. We also married in 1976, with very little and are so grateful for God’s kindness, grace, patience, and generosity.