Therefore, We Celebrate Independence Day! Part II

Written by Jason Haines

“’…Of all the commandments which is the most important one?’ ‘The most important one,’ answered Jesus, is this; ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and all your strength.?The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.’” – Mark 12:28-31

I came to God because I wanted to come to God, change my life and live for him and not for me. I will not lie; it has been a struggle and I struggle with things that I do now and have done in the past daily. I also realize though that God gave me new strength and learning that my responsibility is for my self and not for others, because I cannot change what others do. I can only change myself and how I do things and whom I am living for, that is God. We are all sinners and must repent. God wants us to, “love your neighbor as yourself,” but he also knows we cannot do that if we are trying to impress others, buying things, and constantly trying to advance and succeed at everything in life regardless of what it costs others and ourselves. I struggle with this because all my life I was told that I had to be rich, successful, have things, be the best, and so many other things that today I realize it was wrong. This is the desire of the world and not that of what God ask of us. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

I understand that I have a responsibility for myself and the people around me in building those relationships. In matter in fact building relationships is the most important thing to gaining love, and being loved, because our relationships matter more than anything. I didn’t start to realize this until my wife’s father passed away a little over four years ago. Her father showed his love because one thing that a lot of us didn’t see was the relationships that her dad had built over the years and the peoples lives that he had touched until his funeral when there were well over 3,500 people who had showed up to pay respects to a such great man. All these people had a different story of how Tim Reed had touched each of their lives. He touched them because he took the time to care about them and help them. This was when I started to see how I can touch others’ lives as well as our own, and I wanted to be able to do this myself. I had always wanted to help others but had no direction on helping. I do not think I am or was alone. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

Currently our country has lost its way, it has followed the wrong master. Much of it due to being too busy and only being concerned with our own things and successes, not caring for the world, and succeeding at any and all costs. We do not stop to listen to anyone because we do not have the time to do any of this. All of us looking to get ahead, regardless of the cost to others and never taking time to get to know anyone. Pushing our agendas, and not sitting together to understand the other side, and finding a common ground. Now I am not saying that this was all caused by the young people of today, this has been a constant slow drip over time that has caused this, because a lot of us over time have been to busy to stop, listen, and come to an agreement. It has been taught to our young people and we cannot blame them for our busyness and not paying attention. Busyness has become the “devils’ foothold” in our great nation, or the world for that matter. All of us are guilty. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

I know many people who are usually out speaking and shouting about things on both sides of our governmental aisles and daily life, social media has given this a huge megaphone, who are constantly giving out their opinions, trying to get people irritated, hating each other, and not really explaining the whole point of what they are trying to get people to join in with them. Gangs do this, cults do this, and people with bad intentions do this. Most of the time they do not have the time to explain the whole deal and we should take it on ourselves to do that but guess what, we do not have the time to do that because we are busy. So, if we are too busy to pay attention to issues and concerns of our world then how do you expect to have anytime for your family and friends. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

We have become a country, and world of busyness and we need to get back to building relationships and loving. This busyness has taken away from family, friends, and getting to know new people. I noticed this a few years ago, no one sits on the front porch anymore, everyone is either working or protecting their things behind locked doors. Working keeps us busy and buying more things keeps us busy at work to keep paying for those things. Parents, and I am guilty of this as well, buy their kids more things and hope those things will make them happy, but what the kids really want is to be with their parents and family and have a relationship with them. And don’t let us for get about social media. We all must paint our pretty picture on the platforms, so others are impressed by what we have and are doing, only to make those people jealous and angry and want more of what we have plus more. I once had a friend say to me that he could make anyone believe everything was roses and wine on Facebook. “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the father, but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever,” 1 John 2:16-17. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

My wife and I are trying to raise our kids as we best possibly can and hope we can. Teaching them more about life and getting to know people than about things, it is a struggle at times, trust me. God only wants us to be good stewards of our children, not force them to do anything, live the way we want them to, let them find their better ways, but also teach them good morals and standards. As the bible says in Proverbs 22:6, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” This is our duty as parents and if we do not do this for our children, we have failed them. Giving our children a strong foundation and teaching them right from wrong will give them a great base and teach them they have responsibilities. Responsibilities to themselves and others. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

One day, I hope to teach my children the greatness of this country and what it means not only to Americans, but the rest of the world. The freedom that we in the United States have. I have worked with people of all races and creeds, and they all have one thing in common, FREEDOM. This freedom was granted to us and shall be kept by us. And when we feel this freedom is being impeded, on we shall rise and fight to keep it. Our children must be taught this as it must be passed from one generation to the next. “Human rights can only be assured among a virtuous people. The general government… can never be in danger of degenerating into a monarchy, an oligarchy, an aristocracy, or an despotic or oppressive form so long as there is any virtue in the body of the people,” George Washington. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

I wrote this story a couple years ago and added some things again this year, including the above part.

“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,” -Thomas Jefferson

Growing up in the 80’s I didn’t realize I was living in an era of great patriotism that was celebrated by what appeared to be everyone. I was young and my parents never really explained the true meaning of all the patriotism. We didn’t have much, but everyone was working to be and do better. Flags everywhere, the national anthem at the beginning of classes, and great books about our forefathers. Later in life, I was one of those kids that loved to dress up and pretend I was George Washington; I couldn’t get enough of reading books about the man who saved us from the tyranny of the red coats and their unwanted taxation. I even told one of my teachers that I would write a book about George Washington someday (I haven’t started yet). Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

I lost that vision in my early adulthood, maybe even lost my way in life at that time, because I had become blinded by busyness and things that didn’t matter. I celebrated Independence Day and still had a love for our country, but it wasn’t the same at that time. It was about having fun, not the true reason for the celebration. The true reason was in the back of my mind; however, my best friend and I were more preoccupied with going to the lake for food, drinks and fireworks. I wouldn’t trade those memories, but it I never celebrate the true reason – Independence for our country. Independence for all people of our country. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

Fifty-six great men signed the Declaration of Independence that declared the United States of America a free country and independent of Great Britain. From July 4, 1776 we have been a free country and one of the greatest to ever be created. During our short history, we have had ups and downs but have found ways persevere and become greater. We have been through wars on our own land and in other countries while helping friends and foes alike. This country was built on the freedom of the people, all people, that shall not be infringed upon from our government. And every July 4 we celebrate that independence and freedom. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

The July 4 celebration is for everyone to come together with the freedom to celebrate how we see fit. The Bill of Rights gave us the right to celebrate, or not celebrate, because we are all free men. We are given rights that no other country has in the world. Many countries have tried to emulate what the United States of America has created, but none have ever come close to what we have here. This is a special place and we must always fight to keep it that way. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

“Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not course what others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” -Patrick Henry

Today I heard some bureaucrat, talk about the “liberal world order.” Now what exactly is that, and who gave these people the power to tell all of us how we should live our lives? Were we not given the freedom to choose how we should live by God? We must choose whether we want liberty or death, because if we lose our liberty’s we will lose our lives, and I do not mean we will be dead, we will have no freedoms and always be told what we should do. When people have allowed others to control them, they have always come to the realization they are miserable but have nowhere to turn and escape that misery. I do not want this, and I do not want it for my children. So why are we racing towards socialism and people controlling and telling us what to do? Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

We live in a current environment that it seems as if our government is not listening to any of us. They are playing God and telling us what we need and how we should live. Flying to countries, who not so long ago we said were corrupt, or to the Vatican for a throw it in your face sacrament, saying we are above the law, and you can’t do anything about it. It’s maddening and a very scary feeling because we have never lived through it in any of our times. This time we are living in is what our forefathers had warned us about, what Jesus warned us about, and they wanted us to realize there may come a time that we must fight back against the tyranny. But how do we do that? Our comfort and busyness have been a detriment. As the bible says, we reap what we sow, and our current environment is bringing our harvest of allowing others to control what we do. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

We must protect this land against all enemies foreign and domestic. As Abraham Lincoln said, “this country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right of overthrowing it.” We as free people were given the right by our forefathers and God himself to live and be free. We have the freedom of speech, right to bear arms, freedom of religion, right to property, and much more. These rights were given so we all could be free and live the life that we want to live by keeping our government from taking those rights. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

We the people have had great leaders over the years, and many great battles. Our country is not perfect, and it will never be perfect. Therefore, we must learn from our history and our past mistakes. We went to war with the American Civil War to address one of these mistakes and many men and women died for this mistake. We suffered the great sin of holding people in slavery, but at the time the Constitution was written we may not have had our country if this sin was eliminated. While some believe we haven’t learned from this, I would suggest that those pick up a book by Thomas Sowell or any other person who speaks of American history. Our country has healed from this time, no country before, or after us survived a Civil War. However, to solve our current problems we cannot have another Civil War, though it feels like we are heading in that direction. Martin Luther King, Jr. knew this when he wrote his pledge of nonviolence:

1.??????As you prepare to march meditate on the life and teachings of Jesus

2.??????Remember the nonviolent movement seeks justice and reconciliation- not victory

3.??????Walk and talk in the manner of love; for God is love

4.??????Pray daily to be used by God that all men and women might be free

5.??????Sacrifice personal wishes that all might be free

6.??????Observe with friend and foes the ordinary rules of courtesy

7.??????Perform regular service for others and the world

8.??????Refrain from violence fist, tongue and heart

9.??????Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health

10.??Follow the directions of the movement leaders and of the captains on demonstrations

Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

E Pluribus Unum, Out of Many, One.

We cannot suppress anyone’s freedom in this country, and no one should ever want to do that. This country was built on freedom of everything. To live life and pursue happiness any way we deem possible, as long as it doesn’t infringe on someone else’s freedoms. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. We must get along in this country and not force our beliefs and freedoms on others in this world. That does not mean that we will not have the same beliefs as others, but we must get along here in the United States of America. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

“This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in,” Theodore Roosevelt. Our country must fulfill many needs in order to survive as a free country. Currently, it seems people are listening to speak and not to hear. More concerned about using scare tactics than sitting down at a table and discussing both sides to find a common ground. These past few weeks have been a culmination of reaping what we have sown with both sides becoming angrier with the other and no end in sight. In matter of fact, it seems only more of the same, yelling, screeching, and gnashing of teeth. We speak to preach our thoughts, but don’t actively listen to others. To survive, we must understand different viewpoints and compromise, not bring consensus, on what can or cannot be tolerated. Consensus, or bipartisan, means that one side sacrificed and the other did not. Compromise means we come to an agreement that I will allow you this and you will allow me that. The goal is compromise, not a consensus. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

With this compromising nature we must seek to make sure our future is sustained so our children have the same freedoms that we have. “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democrat answer, but the right answer. Let us seek not to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future,” John F. Kennedy. We have a future to uphold and teach to our kids; a country that must be protected and celebrated, past, present, and future. We must teach our children future generations what America was built upon, so they can continue to celebrate and teach their children the same love of the country. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

What about the current events and struggles facing our county? ?We the people will pull together and preserve. Together, we will find a way that we can all live in this country and live harmoniously. As the Japanese once said, after our day of infamy at Pearl Harbor, we have awoken a sleeping giant. Many people love their country, their freedoms, and their lands; these fundamentals are what The United States of America was built upon. Not to exploit anyone but provide freedoms they were allotted. We will fight for those freedoms and show people that this is the greatest country ever. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

"Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in?liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives, that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." -Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address

The Constitution of the United States was written by our forefathers and to free We the People. This document is undoubtedly one of the singular greatest documents written by any country. It was simple in its writing with laws that did not hold back freedoms. It was written because these men, as did the bible, believed that all men were created equal and nothing could detract from that. Today there are many arguments as to the meaning of the document when it was written. Mostly because we lost our way, served the wrong master, and have been taught things that were not true. It was written for the past and has transcended times to help defend this country and our freedoms. Following are the Bill of Rights in the original Constitution:

1.??????Freedom of Religion, Speech, Peaceably Assemble and the Press

2.??????The Right to Bear Arms and a Well-Regulated Militia

3.??????The Housing of Soldiers without the Permission of the Owner

4.??????Protection from Unreasonable Searches or Seizures

5.??????Protection of Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property

6.??????Rights of Accused Persons to a Fair and Speedy Trial in Criminal Cases

7.??????Rights in Civil Cases

8.??????Excessive Bails, Fines, and Cruel and Unusual Punishments Forbidden

9.??????Other Rights Kept by the People (Fundamental Rights Outside the Constitution)

10.??Undelegated Powers Kept by the States and the People (Separation of State and Federal Powers)

Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

Lastly, let’s acknowledge our great flag that we celebrate every year on July 4. The flag stands for freedom to all people, no matter race, creed, or sex. Originally 13 stars and stripes, it is now 50 stars strong with 13 stripes. The 13 stripes represent the original thirteen colonies and the 50 stars each state of our union. All states are great in their own right and offer their people abundant opportunities. Sometimes, people want to leave their home states when they are young to explore the world. But many times, when older, they will discover how great their home state truly is. Full of friends, family, and memories that will never be forgotten. Our forefathers dream was that everyone would live free in these states and we must never forget that, and the stars and stripes will always fly over our great country and the states within it.

I Pledge Allegiance To the Flag

Of the United States of America

And to the Republic

For which it stands,

One Nation Under God,

Indivisible, With Liberty,

And Justice for All

Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same,” Ronald Reagan. Together, we must protect this country for our children’s future and for the country’s future. Teach our children about the freedoms that were given to all of us. These freedoms were given to us through our forefathers and God himself. We are to live free while respecting another person’s freedom. It’s our duty teach our children how to respect and uplift others. Instill in our kids’ morals and the difference between right and wrong. Protect our families and the values of what this country was built upon. All people were given freedoms and those freedoms are hard work to keep. Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day.

The Star Spangled Banner

Oh, say! can you see by the dawn's early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming;

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there:

Oh, say! does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

“But a Constitution of Government once changed from FREEDOM, can never be restored. LIBERTY, once lost, is lost forever,” John Adams. We must not lose this mindset, for us or our children!! Therefore, we celebrate Independence Day!!

I love God, I love my family, and I love this country, in that order! I want to see all of them be great!!