Happy Independence Day!!!!!

First, I want to wish everyone a safe and happy Independence Day!  Secondly, I thought I’d share an experience and some thoughts …….

So, last Thursday, I went to hear some bluegrass gospel at a nearby church.  Being that it was so close to the 4th, they incorporated a patriotic theme.  It was pretty nice, though, not all of their songs were gospel, which I thought odd in that we were in the sanctuary.  One thing which was done was to recognize and honor our veterans. 

Now, it is altogether fitting and proper to honor our warrior/guardians.  But, as I was standing and being recognized, a thought kept running through my mind ……. ‘this is incomplete’.  There’s much more to celebrating this nation than just recognizing the warriors/guardians. 

You see, there are other battles which must be fought, and they’re not with guns and bullets.  It is in the arena of ideas.  We must fight these battle and we must win.  Fortunately, we can thank God for our founding fathers in this regard.  They already laid out a foundation about how this nation should govern itself, we call it the US Constitution.  Even better, they wrote their thoughts about our independence, self-governance, and our Constitution.  And, they were most eloquent and articulate in doing so.

Even a guy who was known more for his secular thoughts noted …..

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?  —- Ben Franklin (during his appeal for prayer at the Constitutional Convention)

But, of course, prayer isn’t all that’s necessary, either.  I believe it is important, but, there’s still more to this great land than just great warriors and prayers.  James Madison noted …….

A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.

What is implied here, is that not only do we arm ourselves with knowledge, but, that we also use said knowledge ….. that we be engaged in our political processes.  If we are not informed and engaged, we will lose our battles.

But, how then, are we to govern ourselves?  Well, as mentioned earlier, we have the blueprint the US Constitution.  But, there are some pratfalls we must avoid to maintain this nation.  John Adams had this to say …..

Avarice, Ambition, Revenge or Galantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

People, all one has to do is to look around and see where “rights” have been replaced with “license”.  We are wholly engaged in a battle for the soul of this nation.  And, if we lose this battle because we were not informed, or not engaged, this nation will cease to be. 

So, celebrate tonight!  There’s plenty of reasons to celebrate and be thankful for.  But, tomorrow, we must go back to war and we must win.