Thought for Today:
Genesis 40:20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants.
Exodus 12:11 This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the LORD.
John 2:13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Mark 14:12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
Happy Birthday, America. All around the globe, at home or far away, citizens of the United States of America will celebrate the birthday of our nation. Red State, Blue State, northerner or southerner, in cities, towns, villages and rural areas, we will, for this day at least, all unite in celebration. At least almost all of us. There will, of course, be the apologists, the ones who cannot even admit to or accept the ideals upon which this nation was founded. For most of us, however, this is an annual day of celebration.
We often commemorate the birthdate of our nation with parades, cookouts and fireworks. Last night I heard loud explosions as our town and surrounding towns put on community fireworks displays. I’m confident there will be more tonight. Several years ago we were able to join with family and visiting friends and watch the Boston fireworks anchored in the Charles River.
Sadly, this year as is almost always the case, there have been deaths associated with our national birthday celebrations. This year, as is often the case, there have been unintended detonations of fireworks at manufacturing facilities. Greta and I grew up in Houston. Like many other cities and towns, Houston long ago experienced its own fireworks explosion and has since banned personal possession of fireworks. Any firework displays are carefully licensed and supervised by professionals. The power and possibility of harm attendant to gunpowder must be respected and treated properly.
As a citizen of our great nation, I am proud of our history, our Constitution, our freedoms and liberties. I wholeheartedly support, encourage and participate in celebrations of them all. July 4th is properly a time to party, to celebrate and to joyfully relish our country. It also should be a time for everyone to reflect on the aspirations expressed in our Constitution and our laws, a time to give ourselves and our nations a progress report, a report card on where we stand in living up to our ideals.
Many of us remember reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in school. My Masonic lodge incorporates it in our opening ceremony each time we meet. Citizens should think about that pledge often, but, today is a time to reflect on that pledge seriously. “"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."
Today is an especially significant time to ask every parent’s most dreaded questions, “Are we there yet?” Are we? Are we one nation, indivisible? Is there liberty and justice for all? Do we all even agree on what liberty and justice even are? I don’t even want to ponder on whether anyone knows the difference between a democracy and a republic! Today, I pray we all spent some time in reflection, in self-evaluation and in consideration of our ideals, our aspirations and our progress or lack thereof.
As a Christian, I believe our nation, like all nations, is under the providential care of our Creator God. I also firmly believe in and support the separation of church and state. We do not need or want a state religion, nor do we want a theocracy.
I do know that our ancestors-in-the-faith, the Jews, celebrated the birthdate of their ‘nationhood’ in the Passover remembrance of their freedom from slavery and their exodus from Egypt. In many ways that event created their identity as a people. As a Christian, I know that without Passover there would be no Hebrew people, no Jesus son of Joseph and Mary, no Christianity.
Today, in our prayers, we should acknowledge our debt and offer our thanksgivings for all the patriots who have gone before us, for all our ancestors-in-the-faith, and for our great nation.
Stay safe, pray for our nation, trust God,
Pastor Ray