Now Here is a Holiday I Can Celebrate!

The Fourth of July celebration is rapidly coming upon us. This is no Hallmark holiday. I can sink my teeth into this one. For many of us it means an extra day off work, family get-togethers, parades and of course, fireworks! It is the noisiest holiday of the year with the possible exception of New Years Eve.

Freedom and independence, that is what we are celebrating. The ability to speak freely, assemble, and practice our faith with minimal boundaries. We have lived it for 232 years and we have fought any foe who would try to extinguish the light of liberty.

It reminds me so much of Paul's words to the Galatians when he proclaimed "it is for freedom that Christ has set us free." It is at the root of the Gospel. It begins with being freed from the penalty and power of sin and proceeds to being given freedom to pursue life and liberty. But I must also add, freedom to export it to every person on the earth who is living under oppressive despots and evil regimes.

As we celebrate this upcoming holiday take a moment to think about and pray for our brave men and women who have taken the vow to protect our freedoms and who faithfully serve in places where others are just now discovering what it means to live free. Give thanks that every firecracker you light is not a real round of munitions set off by an enemy, but a reminder of the rounds that had to be fired to stay free.

And when you set out your flag, do it reverently as you recall those who have died so that we can enjoy living as a free people. Have a truly happy 4th of July.