Celebrating the 4th

We went to the 4th of July parade in Cody today and enjoyed listening to our band, the Wyoming All State High School Marching Band. I am truly glad that I live in these United States and I thank God that He has blessed this country. We are such a blessed country physically, intellectually, and socially it is hard not to think of ourselves as God's favorite, as the "new Israel." I ask that I not fall in the trap of associating my country with God's kingdom. Two great documents follow, Lord help us to keep them in the proper context of our lives.

Matt 6:9-15

"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Declaration of Independence

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.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation upon such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are long accustomed. But [our grievances are neither light nor transient, and a list of them follows….]
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

I can't Believe He said that

A couple of weeks ago I gave a sermon with the tag line of "I can't believe he did/said that." I was trying to show how Jesus turned his world upset down with his actions and teachings. We talked about him not only healing lepers but actually touching them even before they were healed. He accepted invitations to the houses of unclean sinners and let prostitutes touch him. He talked to women even non-Jewish ones. No wonder he was both loved and hated. Loved by those he helped and showed respect. Hated by those he crossed and offended with his honesty.

I am continually amazed at the difference between the real Jesus and the flannel graph Jesus. I grew up in the age of flannel graph and my Jesus was always nice and clean except for the cleansing of the temple and his hair still kept that "Breck shine" (really old ad slogan). I am so glad that I have lived long enough to get to know a Jesus I can truly relate to, a Jesus I can follow.

I hope you get to know the Jesus that lived a real life with all the struggles and heartbreaks we face, because when he says I've been there, done that, brought the T-shirt it is true. He understands and can give love and compassion from the heart.