The Fourth of July -- a celebration of our nation's independence and a celebration of our dependence on the merciful love of God.

This Tuesday we celebration the anniversary of our nation's Declaration of Independence.  We give thanks to God for the freedom and the blessings we enjoy as Americans,  It is a day of parades, fireworks, golf, and family picnics.  May it also be a spiritual day in which we give thanks that we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights and that we are one nation under God.

As we value our freedom and independence, may we reflect on the freedom we have as sons and daughters of God.  Jesus saved us from the slavery of sin and invited us to live with the freedom of the children of God.  As we value our independence as a nation, may we in faith recognize our dependence on God.  Our true freedom is based on our trusting faith that our loving God goes with us in all experiences of life; that our loving God promises us that our future is full of hope; and that we enjoy true inner freedom when we trust that our lives are in the hands of God.

At one and the same time, we celebrate our independence as Americans and our dependence on God's plan for us the disciples of Jesus.