Happy 4th of July!!

Okay. So today marks X amount of years that the United States of America has celebrated it's freedom. It's independence. It's identity as a country. The USA looks a lot different today than it did in 1776. Our country is known now for many things. Selfishness. Gluttony. Greed. Laziness. Money.

This would be an easy place to follow that bunny trail into a great big tangent about politics. I'll spare us ALL that conversation. My only comment is this - pray for our leaders! God has allowed them to be in their respective leadership roles - whether you agree with their stands or not. Romans 13:1-2 says: "All of you must yield to the government rulers. No one rules unless God has given him the power to rule, and no one rules now without that power from God. So those who are against the government are really against what God has commanded. And they will bring punishment on themselves." Either way, respect our government authority. When voting time comes -  get out there and vote!

Now - back from that short hop away. We celebrate July 4th as the day the USA gained it's independence. The day a new country was founded. But what was this country founded on? What were the ideals and motivations behind forming this new country 236 years ago? Would our Founding Fathers be proud of the country we have become, or would they be dismayed?

I fear that the latter would be the case. The Pilgrims left England in part for religious freedom. Do we even know what religious freedom is? I'm not sure we can know for sure what it meant back then, but I can tell you what it means to me today.

Religious freedom means I have the right to pray to and worship God freely and without any inhibitions. Religious freedom means I have the right to tell others what God has done in my life. Religious freedom means I don't have to be afraid or ashamed of my faith in my Savior - Jesus Christ. Religious freedom means I have the right to say "no" to the strongholds of the Devil!

Religious freedom means we ALL have those rights! Are you expressing those rights? Maybe more importantly, are you expressing those rights in a loving way?

See - sometimes it can be so easy to be what one may call a Bible-thumper or a religious fanatic. Don't be that bullhorn guy. Sure - some people need that in-your-face-gonna-yell-at-you-till-my-face-turns-blue type of thing to get their attention and realize maybe there really is something more to life! But for the Average Joe or Jill, it's something being said or done in a loving, caring, non-threatening way.

What are we so afraid of, anyway? I mean sure, maybe someone will make fun of you for reading your Bible in the break room at work. Maybe your classmates will say rude - and maybe even hurtful - things about that book report you did on a religious topic. So? Didn't Jesus die on the cross to show his love for us? Didn't he go through the ultimate humiliation of being stripped and beaten and spit on - just to show you that he cares enough to go through that? That he cares about your freedom enough?

Another part of that religious freedom is having an escape from sin! Did you know you have the right and ability to choose not to sin! Pastor Ed - the senior pastor at my church - said on Sunday that a lot of times we think we are compelled to sin or that we don't have a choice. But that it isn't true. God has given us the freedom to say "no" to sin!

The next time you are tempted, remember - God has provided an escape hatch. In any well-planned building, you will find multiple fire escapes. In the case of a fire, those inside the building are offered a way out. It's the same for sin! When you turn on your computer or TV and are tempted to watch something or go to those sites that do nothing but corrupt your thoughts, there's an escape hatch! When you're hanging out with friends and they are doing something that will do nothing but tear you farther from God and the person He calls you to be - there's an escape hatch! It's always there - you just have to realize that and realize you aren't "compelled" to sin!

The way I see it - I'd be stupid not to express my religious freedom! I'd be stupid to allow myself to continue choosing to sin and not accepting that escape that God has provided me. I'd be stupid not to read my Bible in the break room. I'd be stupid not to share the great things God has done in my life and brought me through!

Today marks 236 years that the United States of America celebrates it's freedom! But I challenge you to also make today be the day that you choose to stand upon the religious freedoms you have! We are blessed to live in a country where worshiping God is not punishable by death or alienation. Don't let your religious freedoms go for granted!

As you hang out with friends and family, eat barbeque, go to parades or carnivals, and watch fireworks, let it be a reminder that our country was originally based in part on religious freedom. Let us keep this One Nation Under GOD! And let us keep ourselves people who strive to glorify God and give him the praise in everything we do.

Stay safe and make this life the best it can be!!