Independence

It is the Fourth of July. Independence Day. The day that the United States of America celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Two-hundred and thirty-one years later . . . do people still find meaning in these words? I find it interesting that the United States is so determined to remove God from the country - when the belief in Him and His sovereignty is what formed this country to begin with.

I urge you to take a look at this website: The Christian Anthem Lee Behnken, a Christian artist and a close personal friend of the family wrote this song and created this video that speaks to the removal of prayer in schools. The song quotes from famous historical documents that tell us the importance of keeping God as authority in our lives.

I think that many people have come to believe that the Independence that Americans are so proud of, is an independence from any sort of rules. People are starting to believe that freedom means we are allowed to do whatever we want, whenever we want, for whatever reason we want to do it. And as the country moves more and more toward self-gratification and 'selfish freedom', the original model for this country goes up in smoke.

I truly believe that God's greatest commandment is LOVE. "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" - Matthew 22:36-39

He loves us so much - we cannot even fathom how much and all he wants for us is to believe and to LOVE. Through belief in Jesus and living your life for Him - you can find the greatest freedom you've ever known. I know. I have lived on both sides of the bars.

On this Independence Day - I hope that everyone can experience this same freedom that I have found. Freedom from the chains of this world that bring us down and peace that passes all understanding.

Ring the Bells of Freedom
by Bon Jovi

I have walked all alone
On these streets I call home;
Streets of hope, streets of fear
Through the sidewalk cracks, time disappears.
I was lost on my knees
On the eve of defeat
As I choked back the tears,
There's a silent scream no one could hear

So far away from everything, you know it's true
Something inside that makes you do what you got to do

(Chorus)
Ring them bells, ring them loud
Let them ring here and now
Just reach out and ring the bells of freedom
When your world's crashing down like you've lost every round
Stand your ground
And ring the bells of freedom

Up the steps of the church
Through the fields in the dirt
In the dark I have seen
That the sun still shines for the one who believes

So far away, so full of doubt, you needed proof
Just close your eyes and hear the sound inside of you

Ring them bells, ring them loud
Let them ring here and now
Just reach out and ring the bells of freedom
When your world comes crashing down like you've lost every round
Stand the ground
And ring the bells of freedom

[Instrumental]

Ring them bells, ring them loud
Let'em ring here and now
Just reach out and ring the bells of freedom, yea
When your world's crashing down like you've lost every round
Stand your ground
And ring the bells of freedom

Ring them bells, ring them loud
Let them ring here and now
Just reach out and ring the bells of freedom

Be Free,
Izzy