What an honor and privilege to be part of a country that was founded on the concept of FREEDOM. What a blessing to know that many of our founding fathers believed and fleshed out the statement, "IN GOD WE TRUST.'
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Since this day began, the 4th of July 2009, I have heard / seen God's name used in vain multiple times by fellow citizens of this great land of ours. It has become the norm to curse instead of bless God.
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I have made a decision to be quiet no more! Yesterday evening at Walmart the cashier blamed Jesus when she had to void my order and re-ring everything up. I shared with her that it really wasn't Jesus' fault. She said that she prayed to God everyday and it just didn't work! God is not a personal genie folks! Sorry, God!
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Last night I viewed someone's comment on FB. As she tried to be funny, she used the GD word. Do people really understand what they are saying when they do that? I commented with one word, "Inappropriate!" Sorry, GOD!
.This morning as I was at the "send off" for our teen mission group to Maine, I heard a visitor use the LORD"s name in vain. Excuse me! Think before you speak! Sorry, GOD!
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What a FREEDOM we have just to send a group of teens anywhere we choose to teach others about Jesus! This group of teens, the Davis' family, Andrew Coooper, and our daughter Crystal have made a choice to BLESS THE NAME OF THE LORD. As they left, I told Crystal what I have often told my children as they head out into the world, "Be a blessing!"
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Blessing God starts with each individual heart! Blessing God starts with learning to control the tongue! Blessing God begins in the home! 
Blessing God begins in the church! Blessing God begins where you are planted! It's time that the U.S.A. wakes up and understands that it is time for THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO BLESS GOD.
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Our forefathers chose to bless God.
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Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
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- Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died..
- Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned..
- Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army;
- another had two sons captured..
- Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War..
- They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor...
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What kind of men were they?
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- Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
- Eleven were merchants.
- Nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated...
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They signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.
- Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.
- Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.
- Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.
- At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters.. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.
- Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.
- John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.
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So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank God for these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid..
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Remember: FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE! SOMEONE HAD TO PAY THE PRICE... HAD TO SACRIFICE... FOR OUR LIBERTY....It's time we get the word out that patriotism is NOT a sin, and the Fourth of July really is more than beer, picnics, and baseball games.
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LET FREEDOM RING!!
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And while we're speaking of FREEDOM and BLESSING/TRUSTING GOD...here is the most important message of freedom...right here:.
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- "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 .
- "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." John 8:36.
- "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."
- Galatians 5:1."For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, " You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:13-14.
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Remember: FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE! SOMEONE HAD TO PAY THE PRICE... HAD TO SACRIFICE... FOR OUR LIBERTY....
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It's time we get the WORD out that sin separates us from God and we're all sinners. Solution?
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FREEDOM IN JESUS CHRIST!
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LET FREEDOM RING!!
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BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!!!!!
P.S.
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I just returned from the Pitman fourth of July parade. Many of our church family gathered on the front lawn of Dan and Katherine Cooper to watch the event. As the parade began I took this shot of our own Maggie sitting with the McEndree children.
We watched a wonderful small town America celebration of FREEDOM. We even witnessed several groups / floats singing christian music! I never saw that when I lived in the south!
Little Miss McEndree showed me her red, white, and blue fingernails in honor of the celebration.
And then, as the parade neared it's end, a truck passed by that summed it all up!
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