Independence day

I'm not sure about what you're doing this 4th of July. But I will be celebrating in true American fashion. Beer, BBQ and bang, bang, bang...Gotta love those fireworks!
I eat too much
I drink too much
I want too much
Too much!
No one wants to hear it but this holiday is about celebrating our Independence from the King of England's rule. This marks the beginning of this grand experiment which we call democracy. No ruler to dictate what you should think;what you can read, to tell you who to worship.
You have rights!  It must be remembered that the way of things before the founding of America has always been anything but a democracy. And don't believe for one minute that we are a Christian Nation. It was the intent of the founding fathers that as a nation, we should be free from church rule. The world had already experienced centuries of Papist and Kingly rule. The Pope was seldom Christ-like and the King seldom father-like in their rule.  
What father among you, if his son asks for bread, would give him a stone, or if he asks for a fish, would give him a snake instead of the fish? 
History saw many years of stone and serpents.
And although things in this country are flawed, we have the freedom to follow our own course. I am very angry with many of the choices that our political leaders have made. I am very angry that the love of money is at the helm of this country. But don't be fooled into believing that the country needs a spiritual revival and that "God" must be allowed into the schools, into the government, and into the town square. The thought that we must all become Christian in order for the county's problems to be solved is very scary to me and it lacks any of the compassion exhibited through the teachings of Jesus.
As Ann Coulter stated, "We should invade their countries; kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity." 
What a contrast to the words of Martin Luther, father of the reformation:


If anyone attempted to rule the world by the gospel and to abolish all temporal law and sword on the plea that all are baptized and Christian, and that, according to the gospel, there shall be among them no law or sword - or need for either - pray tell me, friend, what would he be doing? He would be loosing the ropes and chains of the savage wild beasts and letting them bite and mangle everyone, meanwhile insisting that they were harmless, tame, and gentle creatures; but I would have the proof in my wounds. Just so would the wicked under the name of Christian abuse evangelical freedom, carry on their rascality, and insist that they were Christians subject neither to law nor sword, as some are already raving and ranting.

To such a one we must say: Certainly it is true that Christians, so far as they themselves are concerned, are subject neither to law nor sword, and have need of neither. But take heed and first fill the world with real Christians before you attempt to rule it in a Christian and evangelical manner. This you will never accomplish; for the world and the masses are and always will be unchristian, even if they are all baptized and Christian in name. Christians are few and far between (as the saying is). Therefore, it is out of the question that there should be a common Christian government over the whole world, or indeed over a single country or any considerable body of people, for the wicked always outnumber the good. Hence, a man who would venture to govern an entire country or the world with the gospel would be like a shepherd who should put together in one fold wolves, lions, eagles, and sheep, and let them mingle freely with one another, saying, “Help yourselves, and be good and peaceful toward one another. The fold is open, there is plenty of food. You need have no fear of dogs and clubs.” The sheep would doubtless keep the peace and allow themselves to be fed and governed peacefully, but they would not live long, nor would one beast survive another.
For this reason one must carefully distinguish between these two governments. Both must be permitted to remain; the one to produce righteousness, the other to bring about external peace and prevent evil deeds. Neither one is sufficient in the world without the other. No one can become righteous in the sight of God by means of the temporal government, without Christ's spiritual government. Christ's government does not extend over all men; rather, Christians are always a minority in the midst of non-Christians. Now where temporal government or law alone prevails, there sheer hypocrisy is inevitable, even though the commandments be God's very own. For without the Holy Spirit in the heart no one becomes truly righteous, no matter how fine the works he does. On the other hand, where the spiritual government alone prevails over land and people, there wickedness is given free rein and the door is open for all manner of rascality, for the world as a whole cannot receive or comprehend it. "

Amen!