"Stand therefore in the LIBERTY wherewith Christ hath made us FREE, and be NOT entangled again with the yoke of bondage." ~~ Galatians 5:1~~
What an apropos reminder. These freedoms we enjoy today are representative of the freedoms our forefathers fought to protect as they helped develop this budding nation. GOD "hath made us free" (inalienable rights). Our founding fathers DELIBERATELY set us apart from the rest of the world and the way it governs us.
We are living in an age in America in which our freedoms are being threatened by the likes of those who, as the Israelites of 1 Samuel 8 (particularly verse 5), seek to "be like other nations." Do we REEEEEALLY wanna go there???? I sure don't!!
I've heard a pastor paraphrase something said long ago: "We must USE our freedom to DEFEND our freedom, or we will LOSE our freedom."
Benjamin Franklin warned, "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety,
deserve neither liberty nor safety."
We are blessed in being able to BE GOVERNED by innate freedom and divine laws. We are blessed in being able to exercise our freedoms without fear of tyranny. However, as it seems we have grown apathetic as a nation, a darkness is settling in if we are not careful. We are slowly being micromanaged in areas of life that we should be governing for ourselves. As a nation, we are welcoming this trend. We are welcoming a false sense of security. I believe we need to be alert and vigilant to defend our inalienable freedoms before we lose it.
I will say something that raises serious ire among some of my friends, but I do believe it with all my heart: I do believe that our country is founded upon Judeo-Christian principles. God does not need to be directly named to recognize and acknowledge His essence and power in our nation! One of my favorite patriotic verses in the Bible says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD." ~~Psalm 33:12~~
God puts kings on thrones, and He removes kings. Proverbs 29:2 reminds us that "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn."
God puts kings on thrones, and He removes kings. Proverbs 29:2 reminds us that "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn."
There was a time in which we were self-disciplined or self-governed as a nation. There was little need for government to rule us.
At the close of the Continental Congress, a lady (presumably a Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia) asked Dr. Franklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?"
At the close of the Continental Congress, a lady (presumably a Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia) asked Dr. Franklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?"
"A republic," answered Dr. Franklin, "if you can keep it."
The Declaration of Independence is the start of a great transformation into one of the greatest nations on earth. We need to be diligent to keep our government functioning as our forefathers intended it to function when they completed the task with the The United States Constitution.
Between Yankee Doodle Dandy, Stars and Stripes Forever, The Star-Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, the Battle Hymn of the Republic, God Bless America, You're a Grand Old Flag, and a host of other classic patriotic songs, let us remember with renewed fondness what it means to BE an American and to have that American spirit! Let us remember the uniqueness we have enjoyed for 236 years.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!! LET FREEDOM RING!!
The Declaration of Independence is the start of a great transformation into one of the greatest nations on earth. We need to be diligent to keep our government functioning as our forefathers intended it to function when they completed the task with the The United States Constitution.
Between Yankee Doodle Dandy, Stars and Stripes Forever, The Star-Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, the Battle Hymn of the Republic, God Bless America, You're a Grand Old Flag, and a host of other classic patriotic songs, let us remember with renewed fondness what it means to BE an American and to have that American spirit! Let us remember the uniqueness we have enjoyed for 236 years.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!! LET FREEDOM RING!!
