In 1620 the pilgrims landed on our nation’s shores, escaping religious persecution. Since that time, people have come to the United States to enjoy the freedom to worship God openly and to invite others to do the same.
For over 230 years, the United States has been a source of hope to the world around us. Our nation was founded on these core principles: that all people are created by God and are individually accountable to Him for their actions.
Our government has not perfectly followed these principles. Each of us could point to a time in our nation’s history and even in our personal lives when we didn’t uphold the principles on which our nation was founded.
Even so, the United States of America has been blessed by God with unprecedented periods of peace and prosperity. Blessed with such abundance, we have sent missionaries throughout the world to share the good news of Jesus Christ and to aid the neediest peoples.
In our country we can tell our friends and neighbors about Jesus, invite anyone to church, and openly share the good news: that Christ died to forgive our sins and rose back to life so that those who trust and follow him may have eternal life.
All throughout our history individuals have served our country in the military to defend the freedoms we so cherish.
From the ragtag band of citizens that fired the first shots in the revolutionary war to today’s men and women fighting terror, US soldiers put themselves in harm’s way for their country. We are truly grateful for your service to us. Because you are willing to face battle, we will never have to face it here.
For every soldier on the front lines there are a hundred more in support, and still more in administrative functions. There are also those that train and stand at the ready. You may have served your entire military career and not fired a single shot, but our appreciation of you is no less profound. You also are guarding our freedom. Thank you.
My whole life I have lived in relative safety. The plans of madmen like Hitler and Stalin have been foiled. The communist threat has been contained, and the terrorist jihad is being blocked.
Today I am free. This freedom, especially the freedom to worship and serve Jesus Christ, is precious to me, and to us here at Lawrence Bible Baptist.
For those who have served or are currently serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or National Guard, we at Lawrence Bible Baptist offer our profound and heartfelt thanks.
