Happy Birthday America!

The sheer poetry of who we are and what our country represents is of historical proportions. Commemorate this day remembering our past, celebrating our present and building a healthy, prosperous future. Happy 4^th of July!

"America the Beautiful"

Written by Katharine Lee Bates,

Melody by Samuel Ward

O beautiful for spacious skies, 

For amber waves of grain, 

For purple mountain majesties 

Above the fruited plain! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

And crown thy good with brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea! 

O beautiful for pilgrim feet 

Whose stern impassioned stress

A thoroughfare of freedom beat 

Across the wilderness! 

America! America! 

God mend thine every flaw, 

Confirm thy soul in self-control, 

Thy liberty in law! 

O beautiful for heroes proved 

In liberating strife. 

Who more than self their country loved

And mercy more than life! 

America! America! 

May God thy gold refine 

Till all success be nobleness 

And every gain divine! 

O beautiful for patriot dream 

That sees beyond the years 

Thine alabaster cities gleam 

Undimmed by human tears! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

And crown thy good with brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea! 

O beautiful for halcyon skies, 

For amber waves of grain, 

For purple mountain majesties 

Above the enameled plain! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till souls wax fair as earth and air 

And music-hearted sea! 

O beautiful for pilgrims feet, 

Whose stem impassioned stress 

A thoroughfare for freedom beat 

Across the wilderness! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till paths be wrought through 

wilds of thought 

By pilgrim foot and knee! 

O beautiful for glory-tale 

Of liberating strife 

When once and twice, 

for man's avail 

Men lavished precious life! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till selfish gain no longer stain 

The banner of the free! 

O beautiful for patriot dream 

That sees beyond the years 

Thine alabaster cities gleam 

Undimmed by human tears! 

America! America! 

God shed his grace on thee 

Till nobler men keep once again 

Thy whiter jubilee! 

Happy Veterans Day 2010

Today we are celebrating Veterans Day, which is also known as Armistice Day. Veteran’s Day is typically celebrated on November 11th and was first incorporated by President Wilson as Armistice Day in 1919. Other countries still recognize November 11th as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in honor of the Armistice treaty, which ended World War I. In 1954, Congress changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

To all of our veterans near and far, retired or still on active duty, regardless of which war you fought in, we not only honor you for your service today, but every day. If it wasn’t for your patriotism to serve your country, we would not have the freedoms we enjoy today. Thank you and may God continue to bless you and your family.

Rising From the Ashes of 9/11

As we remember the events of September 11, 2001, I hope that as a nation of resilient people, we are stronger, wiser and more unified than we have been. Monumental disasters always test the human spirit and although we don’t forget, we move forward with courage, important lessons that we learned and hope for a brighter tomorrow.

In light of the extremist ramblings from a few citizens in this country, as well as around the world, we must remember that the events that took place on 9/11 didn’t kill us, but made us stronger. We must be mindful not to clump everyone from a particular race, religion, creed, culture or socioeconomic status in one category, due to these particular extremists, because that will continue to be the kindling that reignites the inferno. Other horrific terroristic attacks that took place on our soil, by our own citizens, brought us together to the table of peace as we transcended the brutality. The 1995 Oklahoma City Bombings, the 1921 Black Wall Street Massacre, the countless nationwide school and college shootings, or the daily criminal elements preying on the innocent, are just a few.

“The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.” Genesis 4:10-11 (New International Version)

We will always find that diabolical element in all sectors of our local, national and global communities, but that doesn’t mean that the people of those communities embrace the extremists among their own. We must understand that many of these masterminds of evil may not be caught, yet their deeds will catch up with them. We must also realize that if we were to assassinate the leaders of radicalism, there are still the “seeds” they planted, continuing to germinate and spread like a weed that we have to contend with. But let us not walk around in fear or as prisoners of our emotions. Neither let us get trigger-happy, nor crucify the innocent as a form of retaliation, because it will only make matters worse. In order to be healed, we must understand with our hearts.

So on this day, we won’t cast aside the importance or side-effects of our memories. But, let us not get trapped in the abyss of hatred, bitterness and depression in spite of our hurt and woundedness. We won’t forget those lives that were lost, or the people never found, because just like the twin towers, they will always be landmarks in our hearts. Although we wish we could, we can’t go back and rewrite the past, but we will celebrate our gift of life, freedom, equality and hopefully wisdom! We strive for world peace, but we must first start with charity in our own homes, communities, municipalities, schools, businesses and worship institutions, before it can resonate internationally.

“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." -Colossians 3:13-15 (King James Version)

My Challenge To You On This 2010 Independence Day!

As we embark on this traditional day in July when we celebrate our independence, let’s take a brief trip down memory lane about the real story behind our 4th of July celebration.

Independence Day, or the 4th of July as we refer to it here in the United States, is a federal holiday that commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress, on July 4, 1776. The Declaration announced that the 13 American Colonies (Maine - then part of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, Georgia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island), were no longer a part of the British Empire and are now independent states.

There is so much to be proud of in this great country of ours and we must be ever so mindful to never take our freedom, which so many fought and died for, for granted. With that in mind, it is very painful to realize that so many Americans do not know some of the basic allegiances and tributes to our country. On this day, if you do not know any of the following, I urge all of you to learn these and many other historical facts that shaped the United States into the great country it is today.

Pledge of Allegience (an oath of loyalty to the national flag and the republic of the United States of America, originally composed by Francis Bellamy in 1892. It should be recited while standing at attention with the right hand over the heart; military personnel must salute.) http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm.

My Country Tis of Thee (Song) http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh697.sht.

Oh Beautiful (Song) http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/b/obfsskis.htm.

The Star Spangled Banner (Song) http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/lyrics/spangle.htm.

How can we expect others to respect our country if we don’t know it’s history and respect it ourselves! So today, empower yourself! Stand tall and be proud!

May God continue to strengthen us as a united people and may we continue to pray for the truths that united us as a Christian-founded nation, based on strong Biblical principles that we need to get back on track with today! God bless all of you!

HAPPY 4th of JULY Everyone!

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