Thanksgiving is a unique holiday with a long tradition in the United States - it actually pre-dates the US by over 100 years!

How did Thanksgiving come about? How did the traditions surrounding the holiday pass down to use today?

William Federer of Amerisearch, Inc. tells the story of American Thanksgiving on this special episode of the Reflection podcast.

For further reading and research:

The Treacherous World of the 16th Century & How the Pilgrims Escaped It: The Prequel to America's Freedom

Miracles in American History-32 Amazing Stories of Answered Prayers

Prayers & Presidents - Inspiring Faith from Leaders of the Past

The First Amendment of the US Constitution says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Today, Greg Seltz of The Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty talks about Christian Nationalism and the upcoming presidential election.

Resources from today's episode:

Doubting Thomas: The Religious Life and Legacy of Thomas Jefferson by Mark A. Beliles and Jerry Newcombe

https://a.co/d/9ZdoKdI

Liberty Action Alert Podcast with Greg Selztz and guest Eric Metaxas

https://www.lcrlfreedom.org/blog/calling-the-church-to-step-up-to-its-moral-and-gospel-voice-in-the-culture-for-the-sake-of-the-culture-and-the-mission

Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty

https://www.lcrlfreedom.org

Each of us is the owner of a random collection of theologies, doctrines, and superstitions. It’s a junk drawer of religious ideas and influences. It’s the witticisms your grandmother tossed around with ease that sounded like they came from a religious text. It’s an insight gleaned about God from a half-heard sermon at a friend’s church. It’s the mental screenshot of a meme shared on social media. It’s the empowering idea you underlined in a book and wrote on a Post-it Note now forever affixed to your laptop.

These are the things stuffed in our spiritual junk drawers. And as with that stash of old phone chargers, empty pens, and half-used batteries sitting in your kitchen drawer, something in us says, “I might need this.”

And so we hold on. But should we?

For many this junk drawer spirituality has become burdensome. We are worn down by the religious experience it creates and frustrated by a collection of traditions and “truths” that fail to deliver on their many promises.

Find out more about St. Matthew Lutheran Church at www.stmatts.net

Junk Drawer Jesus by Matt Popovits

Amazon: https://a.co/d/3jaaveE

1517.org https://shop.1517.org/collections/coming-soon/products/9781956658491-junk-drawer-jesus

Tough Call by Matt Popovits

https://a.co/d/0VENNEi

Seculosity by David Zahl

https://a.co/d/j6I9L6x

What Matters Most Podcast with Matt Popovits

https://open.spotify.com/show/42pQWZS0UirWPNDA8XNfYx?si=6d3fc013a340440c

Make It Simple Podcast with Matt Popovits and Rachel Ryder

https://open.spotify.com/show/5DgcGJkqIGLLsFKO2bcIWH?si=56604b27c81149e4