Wednesday, June 26, 2013
The Real Bang Behind Independence Day
The Fourth of July. It doesn’t get more ambiguous than that. By name, it’s no more distinguished than the Third of June. For a day that’s symbolized by fireworks more than anything else, it would be great to inject a little substance into our celebrations this year.
Before our heads are tilted back at 45 degrees toward the sky this Independence Day with loved ones and friends, taking the time to put this significant holiday into perspective could be a platform to build and share our faith.
How many of us knew that 97 percent of our Founding Fathers were practicing Christians who based the principles that govern this nation today on the Bible? No other modern nation has enjoyed such prominence and prosperity as long as the United States, which came to fruition 237 years ago in a quest to live out one’s faith freely without the oppressive governance of England and its church.
So where can we learn more about our Christian roots as a nation in preparation for Independence Day? Here are a few good places to start:
· Visit David Barton’s Wallbuilders.com, which celebrates America’s forgotten history and heroes as it strives to reintroduce people to the moral, religious and constitutional foundation of our nation.
· Go to the library and check out books about our nation’s heritage, the Revolutionary War and our Founding Fathers.
· If you’re in the southern or eastern regions of the United States, visit one of the many Revolutionary War memorial or battle sites and check out times for reenactments.
· If you’re in the western U.S., go to an American history museum and explore exhibits designated to walk you through the birth of our nation.
· Watch Drive Thru History: Discovering America’s Founders (DVD)
· Bake cookies, cakes or cupcakes with patriotic symbols such as the American flag or bald eagle and discuss their symbolism and how they’re tied to our shared values as a country
· Go over the lyrics of the entire National Anthem (or Star-Spangled Banner) and its root in God, as well as its reference to “rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,” so everyone understands the true significance of the fireworks you’ll be watching later in the night.
And the liberty we celebrate this Independence Day can also be used to remind us of the freedom Jesus Christ purchased for us through dying on the cross for our sins.
As we watch spectacular fireworks exploding on the 4th – which symbolize bombs destroying the enemy’s destructive forces – let’s take a minute to reflect on the power of Jesus’s crucifixion that ripped apart the chains of death and devastated Satan’s plans for mankind.
So this Fourth of July, hopefully you’ll have a lot more to celebrate than just fireworks!
Believe.com is a faith-based content destination serving the Christian community, dedicated to helping Christians deepen their walk with the Lord as well as fellowship with other believers. The site also exists as a resource for the Seeker looking for hope and answers.
Patriotic Heroes to Celebrate this July
Forget Iron Man and Superman … look to a true hero this Independence Day
As superheroes continue to light up the big screen this summer taking in hundreds of millions, another type of heroes should take the spotlight of your Independence Day weekend. Superman and Iron Man might have powers you would never harness, but other ageless heroes touted a power that all can tap into – the power of Jesus Christ.
From our first president to the creator of the modern dictionary, United States history has no shortage of heroes from which youth and adults can aspire – especially when it comes to living out their faith and giving the glory to God.
Let’s take a brief look at some heroes who won’t burn out as fast as a firecracker or a box office smash.
George Washington: Many people don’t realize that Colonel Washington was the only officer on horseback who wasn’t shot down – and he gave all the glory to God. Our first president was one of the most influential men in building history’s greatest, most powerful and successful nations – based upon the principles of the Bible that he lived out every day. He is chronicled as being a God-fearing man who faithfully placed God first in his life and led others by example to boldly and courageously do the same.
Benjamin Rush – This signer of the Declaration of Independence has been celebrated as one of America’s three most notable men. He lived out his Christian faith as he served under three U.S. presidents, founded the American Sunday Schools, as well as the Unites States’ first Bible Society. The American role model also led movements that abolished slavery and spurred prison reform.
Abraham Lincoln: Known for crucial role in abolishing slavery and establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday to pay tribute to God, the 16th president is a hero of the Christian faith. His view of the Bible? “In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong,” Lincoln stated. Standing on his biblical convictions, he led the Union to defeat the Confederate Army in the Civil War.
Benjamin Franklin: Perhaps one of most famous scientists and inventors in American history, Franklin was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. This Christian role model is quoted, “As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and His religion as He left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is likely to see.” Besides his bout with lightning to explain the general theory of electrical action and invention of bifocal glasses, Franklin’s intense study of Scripture led to a lifelong quest to live out biblical morality.
Noah Webster: This patriot joined a regiment during the revolutionary war and vehemently called for a national constitution to be adopted to build America upon sound Christian principles. He coined the phrase, “Education is useless without the Bible.” Most famously known for compiling the first American language dictionary, Webster (today known as the Merriam-Webster Dictionary), was a lifelong teacher of fundamental biblical precepts and prepared an American version of the Bible. A staunch supporter of George Washington, Webster established the first daily newspaper in New York City to champion and defend his hero.
These descriptions provide just a brief sketch of these heroes’ inspirational lives. Take a closer look into the faith that drove these patriots’ passion to excellence this Independence Day weekend by spending time exploring books, video and the Internet with family and friends.
It’s Independence Day, but What Are You Really Free from?
We were delivered from much more than British rule
As we celebrate Independence Day this year, a word that resonates in virtually every celebration is “freedom.” This word has many connotations and means different things to every person. But there’s one type of freedom that evades many of us in our day-to-day lives.
To the typical teenager, freedom means a new level of trust and responsibility bestowed upon them when they get the keys to the car or have extended curfews. To parents of high school graduates, it means the ability to once again invest time in themselves and new ministries. And to the released prisoner, it means returning to loved ones and turning away from licentious and destructive behavior.
When a new believer makes his or her decision for Christ, an aspect of all these forms of freedom can be experienced, but the closest similarity to the above three is the last.
Even though this world will often tell us that we are inherently good, the Bible has something else to say.
Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward and speak lies. —Psalm 58:3, NIV
And the consequences of sin – even just one?
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. —1 Corinthians 15:22, NIV
But sin isn’t just something we fall victim to every once in a while when provoked. It’s a black hole from which we have no power to evade from being sucked in – except through the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. The Bible puts it this way:
When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. —Romans 20–22, NIV
It’s hard for many to admit that they were born with an inherent sinful nature and predisposed to sin, but this wickedness has had a hold on all of us. With Christians, too, sin is always knocking at our door, as Satan loves more than anything to pull believers off course and leading them astray onto a destructive path.
Without Christ, we will always be tethered to sin, no matter how hard we try to break free or how passionately we try to believe we have it under control.
With Christ, we have to constantly kneel at His feet and be washed with His cleansing and liberating power that breaks the chains of sin from which we were once hopelessly bound.
So, this Independence Day, are you also celebrating a freedom from sin? Remember, if you’re not desperately holding onto God, you’re holding onto sin, as the sin in this world is a bottomless pit that Satan yearns will consume each and every one of us.
10 Scriptures for Sharing Our Freedom in Christ
10 Scriptures for Sharing Our Freedom in Christ
When we celebrate our freedom from British rule this Independence Day, why not also celebrate the greatest freedom of all … our liberation from the bondage of sin and death through the blood of Jesus Christ? All other freedom comes in a close second.
And what better way to let others partake in this celebration than by sharing Scripture that brings this freedom we receive from Christ and His Word to life?
Here are just a handful of verses that can help us and others put our freedom into proper perspective:
O Lord, truly I am your servant … you have freed me from my chains. —Psalm 116:16 NIV
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. —Romans 6:6–7 NIV
… and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first-born from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood … —Revelation 1:5 NIV
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed. —Luke 4:18 NIV
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. —Romans 8:20–21 NIV
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. —2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV
I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:34–36 NIV
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. —Romans 6:18 NIV
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. —Romans 8:1–2 NIV
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. —Galatians 5:1 NIV
So, more than 200 years ago, our Forefathers were celebrating religious freedom that’s lasted for centuries. But over 2,000 years ago, believers across the world began celebrating freedom from spiritual death – which will last for eternity!
yodeling and other great german music
property for sale
All In The Family
The US has entered into a contract with a real estate firm to sell 56 buildings that currently house U.S. Post Offices. The government has decided it no longer needs these buildings, many of which are located on prime land in towns and cities across the country.
The sale of these properties will fetch billions of dollars and a handsome 6% commission to the company handling the sales. That company belongs to a man named Richard Blum. Who is Richard Blum you ask?
Why the husband of Senator Dianne Feinstein, that's who. What a bunch of crooks we have running this country!
Senator Feinstein and her husband, Richard Blum, stand to make a fortune. His firm, C.R.I., is the sole real estate company offering these properties for sale. Of course, C.R.I. will be making a 6% commission on the sale of each and every one of these postal properties.
All of these properties that are being sold are all fully paid for. They were purchased with U.S. taxpayers dollars, and they are owned free and clear by the U.S.P.S. The only cost to keep them is the cost to actually keep the doors open and the heat and lights on. The United States Postal Service doesn't even have to pay property taxes on these subject properties. Would you sell your house just because you couldn't afford to pay the electric bill?
Well, the Post Office is.
How does a powerful U.S. Senator from San Francisco manage to get away with such a sweet deal?
A powerful United States Senator's husband is standing by, all ready to make millions from a U.S. taxpayer funded enterprise.
No one in the mainstream media is even raising an eyebrow over his 6% commission on the sale of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of quasi-public assets.
Pass this info on before it's pulled from the internet.
I checked this on Snopes . . . True on Snopes:
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