Let Freedom Ring

Happy Independence Day all!

FREEDOM: freedom has a broad range of application from total absence of restraint to merely a sense of not being unduly hampered or frustrated

This side of heaven, we never have the “total absence of restraint".

As Americans, we struggle with this back and forth and even have two major political parties that are basically advocating for systems, policies, laws, etc…that impact our freedoms. I think both sides of aisle can go a little overboard in this area:
-Too much control
-No control

Here are just a few of our “freedom” documents:
-Magna Carta - 1215
-The Mayflower Compact
- 1620Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges
- 1701Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death
- Patrick Henry, 1775
-The Declaration of Independence
- Articles of Confederation
- Constitution of the United States
- Bill of Rights and the Later Amendments Petition from the PA Society for the Abolition of Slavery
- Treaty of Tripoli
- The Star Spangled Banner
- Lincoln's First Inaugural Address
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Gettysburg Address
-The Pledge of Allegiance
-The American’s Creed

Then I think of all kinds of other Freedom-oriented events, documents and more. Work that gave protections and freedoms to children (labor laws), women (voting, ability to serve in the military), racial diversity (ability to marry interracially), etc…

May you celebrate today - all of the work that has come before you:
-Those who physically fought for our freedoms
-Those who intellectually gave/worked for our freedoms
-Those grass-roots organizations, which have both fought and monitored our fredoms….

That is what today is about. Indepence was only the first steps. We are a country with a long line of advocates who have fought so that we can be this blessed to live in the land of the FREE and the home of the BRAVE.

May you too be one of those freedom fighters when you see injustice in this world. Stand up! Make a difference! Be/become an advocate (a rewarding and draining experience). Work to better the lives of others!

Eternal Freedom:
But the best writing on Freedom is actually found in the Bible...the promises of Christ.

True, authentic freedom comes from a personal relationship with the living and loving God. All of the rest of this is wonderful (and it is a great country in which to live) but don’t miss an eternity of freedom (regardless of your homeland today).

Organized religion often gets this freedom in Christ thing all messed up with their church rules and rituals. Don’t miss the promise of true freedom…the freedom that comes from Christ. His love. His promise. His hope…all for you.

Freedom doesn't mean lack of conflict. Rather, freedom in Christ means that you don't have to be constrained by working or otherwise trying to earn your way to heaven. Nope, it's your free gift. Instead, you might want to work for His purpose so that others may come to know of Christ; so others will have the security of eternity in heaven.