In the summer of 1976, I was looking forward to kindergarten, and our nation was celebrating its bicentennial. I can’t remember much from those days, but in the 50 years since, I know I’ve heard Psalm 33:12 many times: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” Those words were taken up by God-fearing people—like my own Midwestern family and small Baptist church—who were grateful for their cou...