Tune presents nation with call for revival

Steve Vaus

There are references to the God of the nation's Founders at the U.S. Supreme Court, the Capitol and at the top of the Washington Monument. Congress fought to have an acknowledgement of God added after it had been left off the fancy new $600 million Capitol Visitor Center. It's on U.S. currency, and there's a reference to God in the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Creator is honored in the Declaration of Independence.

But is God really being recognized?

That's the question raised by a powerful new song from Steve Vaus, who created the Buck Howdy character. He has performed, produced and recorded with Billy Ray Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Willie Nelson, Kenny Loggins, Leann Rimes, Randy Travis and Kenny Rogers; he's a four-time Grammy nominee (with a win in 2010) and has performed with the Billy Graham Crusades, at the Grand Ole Opry and at the White House.

The song, called "State of the Union," is posted online.

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The lyrics that begin as if they could be coming from a nightly newscast, with a "disarray" because of unemployment, taxes and such, move on with a reminder that America for generations has been blessed.

Listen to the new song.

But there's a warning that things can get worse, and an explanation of how and why.

A solution is there, too.

"It's tough to get a handle on why people do what they do," he told WND. "For me, though … what matters is whether or not you remember that God has blessed this nation in the past.

"We used to honor that more," he said. However, "I think we've lost sight of that, and I just think it's time that something, or somebody, starts lighting the fire for an American revival."

Recent news reports are replete with grounds for Vaus' concerns: A major Christian denomination has voted to remove "God the Father" from its organizational documents, a longtime Christian ministry has announced plans to remove "Christ" from its name, President Obama many times has left "Creator" out when quoting from the Declaration of Independence, and a television network edited the Pledge of Allegiance to remove "under God."

"I look at the late 1940s, when Billy Graham came on the scene. There was a worldwide revival," Vaus said. "I think we've almost become a victim of our own desire and willingness to be a melting pot. But we can't forget what gave us the source of our liberty in the first place.

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"We can't be all things to all people," he said.

He said he welcomes the idea that the U.S. is a melting pot. But he said, "People want to be part of a melting put because we have something special."

That would be a history replete with acknowledgements -- and blessings -- from God, he said.

Vaus told WND the song was a project of some weeks, but he believes the message is so important he's giving it away.

"Sometimes you just have to do what the Good Lord sets in front of you," he told WND. "And figure out how to pay the bills later."

He said there's a dichotomy in the U.S. acknowledgement of God throughout its history and the everyday dismissal of His presence. Presidents and governors have called annual days of prayer, courts and legislative sessions are opened with prayer and oaths are taken "so help me God."

"Given the prominence of that motto in our everyday life, it's surprising that we need to be reminded," he said. "I find it fascinating and disturbing all at the same time.

"If you think back to coverage you've seen of the State of the Union address [the president's annual report to Congress], they never show a wide shot [of the president speaking in Congress' chambers]. Right behind the president is 'In God We Trust' emblazoned on that marble wall."

"Coincidence? I think not," he said.

He cited documentation that the Continental Congress in 1775 sought prayer from the colonies over the oppression being endured.

His message today:

"Now you act like you don't know me
or remember who I am.
You turned away from me.
We haven't spoken.
Now your lost dreams are broken
Don't think it can't get worse, it can
If you won't remember who I am.

WND reported when NBC's opening of the U.S. Open Golf Championship included two readings of the Pledge of Allegiance, but omitted the phrase "under God" both times.

The program commenced with children standing in a classroom reciting an abbreviated version of the Pledge that omitted "under God."

Radio host Rush Limbaugh, a well-known golfer himself, responded to the controversy by saying, "For [under God] not to show up on NBC, somebody had to take it out, which is an actual physical movement or decision."

He added, "I think the lesson here for NBC is if it was an accident, they ought to learn how much this really matters to people. I don't think they really know that."

It was the United Church of Christ, the denomination whose Chicago pastor Jeremiah Wright blasted the United States and white people for years from the pulpit while Barack Obama sat in his pews, that decided to banish God "the Father" from its organizational documents.

A report from Eric Anderson on the denomination's website confirmed that delegates to the UCC's "General Synod 28" agreed to a series of proposed amendments to the constitution and bylaws. The vote was 613 in favor of the changes, 171 against and 10 abstaining.

The changes include a pointed deletion of a reference to God "as heavenly Father," which has been part of Christendom's description of the Trinity for millennia – the three persons of God being the heavenly Father, Christ the Son and Savior, and the Holy Ghost, the counselor and comforter.

A previous song by Vaus, "We Must Take America Back," drew massive attention when it was released in the 1990s.

"There's an unspoken fear, We're on our way down," he penned. "We must take America back, Main Street to Wall Street, cities and states. Washington, D.C., before it's too late:"

WND has reported on incidents in which it appeared that Obama purged God from America by design.

WND also has reported on the many times the U.S. government has tried to conceal, diminish or ignore the Judeo-Christian heritage of the United States.

Just a few months ago, Vaus stirred controversy with his satirical look at the government's decision to impose invasive body-scans and full-body patdowns on airline travelers. Half a million viewed his work online in almost no time at all.

The song was a parody of "Help Me Make It Through the Night":

He also, in the period after 9/11, created "There Is an Eagle," which zoomed to the top of the country charts.

Visit the artist's website now.

At the time, he said, "There have been few times in my life when I felt absolutely compelled to write songs – as though I had no other choice – as though God was saying, 'Look, this is what your purpose, your reason for living is.'"

"I felt that calling when I wrote 'We Must Take America Back' in 1992; when I wrote 'Will You Be Among the Patriots' in '94; when I wrote 'I Still Believe' in '97. But never more so than this past weekend," he said of his creation of the "Eagle" song.

The 1992 song, "We Must Take America Back," was the most requested song in many radio stations' inventories after listeners chanced to hear it.