What a country is America! As Erma Bombeck says, "You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers in front of the White House, but by family picnics where kids throw frisbees, the potato salad gets soggy, and the flies die from happiness."

Some years ago in a U.S. District Court, I had the privilege of participating in a naturalization ceremony. Some sixty foreign-born persons were ready to take their citizenship vows. Every place on earth was represented. They reminded me of that old Coca Cola commercial about "I want to teach the world to sing." These sixty folks had waited five years for this day. They had learned the language, studied the nation's laws, and passed a test and security check. Behind them sat several hundred proud relatives with cameras. An Army color guard marched in with the flag. Then a soloist sang the National Anthem and God 'Bless America. The guest speaker was himself a naturalized citizen. Today he is a vice-president of a bank. His very presence spoke volumes about the American dream.

Finally, the new citizens stood to take their vows. But before they could do so, they first had to renounce their previous citizenship, whatever it was. You can be a citizen of only one nation at a time. Then altogether, with tears flowing down their cheeks, they declared, "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America..."

I want to declare to you today that we Christians are the only people on earth who can hold dual citizenship. Simultaneously, we are citizens of America and also citizens of the Kingdom of God.