Let Freedom Ring!

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. ~Erma Bombeck

HaHa. It’s nice to know that eating too much 4th of July food is patriotism! 😉

As we celebrate and throw frisbees and eat way too much today, it’s always good to remember what we truly celebrate.

Peter Marshal and David Manuel have written some wonderful books on the founding of our country. The Light and the Glory, and From Sea to Shining Sea comes from original notes and diaries of our founding fathers, and reveals the true Spiritual heritage we have as Americans. Important reads for us and our children.

Here are a few thoughts/quotes shared in these books from some of our founding fathers:

“When Independence became a reality [on July 3rd], John Adams, who had fought so long and hard for his vision of a new nation under God, was overwhelmed. As always, the person he most wanted to share his feelings with was his wife, Abigail. on this [July 3rd] day in 1776, with the first post rider leaving for Massachusetts, he dispatched a prophetic letter. the day, he said,

‘Ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continenet to the other, from this time forward forevermore.’ “

Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Light and The Glory, 310.

July 2 “On this day in 1776, the Thirteen Colonies voted to separate from Great Britain. A hush fell over the room. The late afternoon sun fired a brass candlestick on the green felt tablecloth, a pair of spectacles, the silver knob of a walking stick. men azed out the window, some with tears in their eyes. A few prayed. their chairman, John hancock, broke the silence; “Gentlemen, the price on my head has just doubled!”

A wry chuckle followed, then Sam Adams rose: ‘We have this day restored the Sovereign, to Whom alone men ought to be obedient. He reigns in Heaven and …from the rising to the setting sun, may His Kingdom come!”

Quote from Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Light and The Glory, 309

How grateful I am to the countless lives who have sacrificed for this nation’s freedom! As we celebrate Independence Day, may we also celebrate the Life {of Jesus Christ} that was given for us so that all people on this earth could be Eternally Free.

Our Sunday School lesson yesterday was on our freedom through Christ Jesus from the bondage to “self”. To the onlooker, freedom seems to be the ability to do, say, and attain anything we want to be able to do, say, and attain. But in reality, that’s no life of freedom! That’s actually a life of bondage. Bondage to self. And self is a monster that is never satisfied.

True freedom is actually being under the bondage of Jesus Christ – free to be all He has created us to be. Within the boundaries of our bondage to Jesus – we experience perfect peace and freedom.

“But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly adn patiently await the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah as Savior, Who will transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself.” Phil. 3:20-21

That is true freedom that we celebrate every day!