Happy Independence Day

Sitting here in our living room this evening I can hear the sounds of fireworks, nothing very organized, or very loud, just folks here in The Villages setting off some noisemakers in their yards and in the streets. I also turned on the TV and watched some professional fireworks displays in Boston and our nation’s capital, both truly magnificent. But then I recalled how we were blasted a few days ago by a long and noteworthy thunderstorm that provided a light and noise show exceeding anything devised by man. I think our Creator was just reminding us that His power is far greater than ours. Perhaps He put on that show a few days early just to ensure we got the point, while not interfering with our own festivities tonight.  

Even as we celebrate our independence and our freedom, these same ideals are under attack, but I have hope that the American people, at least enough of us, will realize what is at stake and take appropriate action at the polls in November; and while we’re at it, also turn to God in prayer. As our founding fathers believed, the greatest attacks against this constitutional republic will always come from within. That is why they took such pains to protect us from ourselves. To the founders, pure democracy was anathema, something to be avoided at all costs. Without the rights, restraints, and boundaries defined in our Constitution, our nation would have devolved into a tyrannical state in which an uncontrolled majority suppressed and persecuted the minority. The tyranny of the majority always leads to destruction, and it usually doesn’t take too long.

So many of those who populate our three branches of government seem to have lost their way and forgotten that their primary task is to serve the people while upholding the Constitution. Too many have been enslaved by a Marxist ideology and appear unable or unwilling to throw off the shackles that bind them to this lie. Others are simply self-serving and see their role in government as a means to satisfy their ambition and material desires. They inevitably choose what is best for them rather than for the nation and it’s people. And some are simply cowards, men and women unable to stand up for what is right and because they are afraid of the attacks that will certainly come their way. These all need our correction, which is why you and I cannot be silent. But more importantly, they need our prayers. 

I hope you all had a happy and glorious Fourth of July, as we celebrate our republic’s 246th birthday. And God bless all the unborn children who will quietly celebrate their independence this year.

Happy Independence Day!

Two-hundred and forty years have passed since the Declaration of Independence was signed by the members of the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. That's a very long time; indeed, I can think of few other nations that have existed under the same form of government for so many years. Compared to many other nations, we may be a young country, but we have prospered under one of the oldest, most successful forms of government the world has ever seen. While so many nations have experienced radical changes in government from revolution, coup d'état, uprising, and seizure of power, we have continued under the government defined by the Founders in the Constitution.

Signing of the Declaration of Independence

Whether this uniquely successful form of government will continue is questionable. Instead of supporting the Constitution that has been the bulwark of our freedom, far too many of our politicians consider it an obstacle to the realization of their ideological ends. And so, ignoring the Constitution and the law, they focus on self-aggrandizement and the attainment of power. We have afflicted ourselves with dictatorial executives who usurp the power of other branches, ideological justices who legislate rather than judge, and weak legislators who abdicate their responsibilities.

These dishonorable men are able to continue in power because too many of our citizens are completely ignorant of their own nation's political roots. History is rarely taught in our schools, or it is so distorted by political correctness and leftist ideology that the truth is buried out of sight. Can we turn this around and stop what Constitutional scholar Judge Robert Bork called our Slouching Towards Gomorrah? I'm not very optimistic.

Writing about this I'm reminded of a wonderful little book written almost 60 years ago. My copy was a gift from my father when I was in high school. They Signed for Us offers brief descriptions of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, who in their own words mutually pledged "to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor." It's a good read and would make a nice gift to any young person on this Fourth of July.

Here in The Villages, patriotism runs high and our street is lined with hundreds of American flags. Here's a photo I took this morning as Maddie and I returned home from her early walk. Maddie's patiently waiting for me in the lower left of the photo.

Our Street in The Villages - Fourth of July

And my favorite patriotic photo (below) is one I took of our son-in-law, Airton, an immigrant from Brazil, on the day he became an American citizen in 2008. The ceremony took place at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. Airton's rather remarkable hat was a gift from our other daughter, his sister-in-law, who plopped it on his head once he was officially a citizen.

Airton Santa Ana - American Citizen

Pray for our nation and pray for those we have elected to do the people's work. 

God bless you and your families on this Independence Day.

Happy Independence Day - Pray for our Nation