Bonnie Alba
The 4th of July - - teach the rising generation
By Bonnie Alba
"..Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is born with certain God-given rights; that government is only a convenience created and managed by the people, with no powers of its own except those voluntarily granted to it by the people. We sometimes forget that great truth, and we never should." President Ronald Reagan, 1981
The Fourth of July! Countless pleasurable memories come to mind from past family and community celebrations of this significant date on our calendar. As children, family traditions included the fireworks, of course — all eyes turned upwards to see those explosions of firelights across the night sky.
After the Continental Congress accepted the Declaration of Independence on July 2, 1776, in a letter to his wife, John Adams wrote, "I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever..."
Our founding fathers, many of whom were pastors/ministers, lived and breathed their integrity, honor and faith in God and his providence. The governing documents they penned, the Declaration of Independence (Thomas Jefferson) and the U.S. Constitution, have no equals in the annals of civilized nations.
Separated by over 236 years — the thirteen colonies declaring their independence from the British Empire and tyrant King George III — we do not see the importance of remembering our history.
In postmodern America, Independence Day is now just another holiday on the calendar. The public school system hasn't taught the truth of our history for the last two generations. They completely omit our founding fathers' reliance on God's divine providence for victory against the binding chains of Great Britain.
For many reasons, we have forsaken our beginning as a Republic, one nation under God. We are living in a society-culture where we have lost our way — now right is wrong and wrong is right. Our Governing bodies no longer abide by their oaths to the U.S. Constitution. Our America appears to be growing weaker and our nation sinking into an abyss of immorality and corruption.
How do we preserve our history and regain the American spirit if it is continually being revised by succeeding generations? When the truth of God's providence and sovereignty can no longer be mentioned in school classrooms? The fact is we can't unless families take it upon themselves to teach their children.
Far removed from our historical beginnings, we do not see our way ahead. It is possible if we repent of our ways and earnestly pray, God will still bless us as a nation.
There is no better time than now, on this Independence Day, to start a new tradition — read the Declaration of Independence (available online and in books) to your family and friends, especially the children, around the grill or dinner table.
As your families and friends gather this 4th of July, watching the firelights in the night sky, maybe the wonder of how we got here from there will inspire your hearts. So why not kick up your traditional celebration a notch? Share your historical recollections and memories with your children so that they will never forget.
Declaration of Independence highlights:
"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 entitles them...
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness ...
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."
© Bonnie Alba
July 3, 2012
"..Let the Fourth of July always be a reminder that here in this land, for the first time, it was decided that man is born with certain God-given rights; that government is only a convenience created and managed by the people, with no powers of its own except those voluntarily granted to it by the people. We sometimes forget that great truth, and we never should." President Ronald Reagan, 1981
The Fourth of July! Countless pleasurable memories come to mind from past family and community celebrations of this significant date on our calendar. As children, family traditions included the fireworks, of course — all eyes turned upwards to see those explosions of firelights across the night sky.
After the Continental Congress accepted the Declaration of Independence on July 2, 1776, in a letter to his wife, John Adams wrote, "I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever..."
Our founding fathers, many of whom were pastors/ministers, lived and breathed their integrity, honor and faith in God and his providence. The governing documents they penned, the Declaration of Independence (Thomas Jefferson) and the U.S. Constitution, have no equals in the annals of civilized nations.
Separated by over 236 years — the thirteen colonies declaring their independence from the British Empire and tyrant King George III — we do not see the importance of remembering our history.
In postmodern America, Independence Day is now just another holiday on the calendar. The public school system hasn't taught the truth of our history for the last two generations. They completely omit our founding fathers' reliance on God's divine providence for victory against the binding chains of Great Britain.
For many reasons, we have forsaken our beginning as a Republic, one nation under God. We are living in a society-culture where we have lost our way — now right is wrong and wrong is right. Our Governing bodies no longer abide by their oaths to the U.S. Constitution. Our America appears to be growing weaker and our nation sinking into an abyss of immorality and corruption.
How do we preserve our history and regain the American spirit if it is continually being revised by succeeding generations? When the truth of God's providence and sovereignty can no longer be mentioned in school classrooms? The fact is we can't unless families take it upon themselves to teach their children.
Far removed from our historical beginnings, we do not see our way ahead. It is possible if we repent of our ways and earnestly pray, God will still bless us as a nation.
There is no better time than now, on this Independence Day, to start a new tradition — read the Declaration of Independence (available online and in books) to your family and friends, especially the children, around the grill or dinner table.
As your families and friends gather this 4th of July, watching the firelights in the night sky, maybe the wonder of how we got here from there will inspire your hearts. So why not kick up your traditional celebration a notch? Share your historical recollections and memories with your children so that they will never forget.
Declaration of Independence highlights:
"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 entitles them...
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness ...
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."
© Bonnie Alba
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