Well, this is my favorite holiday. From days of lighting off fireworks in the backyard (don't worry, the statute of limitations is up, so I think I can confess it now) to the past seven years of wedded bliss, the Fourth of July has always been a special day for me.

First of all, it's real significance is somethign that beats strong in my heart. To hear history call, and to think of the farmers, landowners, politicians, lawyers, and honest hardworking men that decided to buck the oppression on their backs, to declare themselves independent from tyranny, moves me to tears.

Millions of men and women, including some of my friends have served in peacetime and war time to protect and build our nation. While I know I'm leaving many out, a handful of currently serving soldiers come to mind....(Ryan Wilson, Wayne Beck, Dave Taylor, Josh Chastain)


This weekend is about them. and it's about this country. As screwed up and divided as it is... we're living in the freedom bought and paid for by the blood of American boys and girls, and the sweat and tears of countless others on the homefront. Remember that when the president makes you mad, or the supreme court overturns your favorite law, or you see a criminal walk free, or a senator trash the boys and girls overseas.... this is a great country..

What happened to the days when it was okay to disagree? What happened to the days when it was okay to say, "I'm a Christian" without being ridiculed, or on the flipside, when it was okay to question and explore new ideas without being branded as a "hippie" or a liberal.

For just a minute. Throw away the militant hatred for the "other half" of the country, no matter what side your on. Because we have the FREEDOM to disagree. That freedom was paid for with that same blood and sweat and tears.

To quote the idiot Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?"

But back to the holiday at hand.

I fell in love with a woman, and married her on July 4th. This year makes seven since we walked out of that hot sweaty church and into a new life.

And it marks six years to the day that our twins were born. I was married on the 4th of July, and my oldest kids were born on the 4th of July.

My family, that' s America to me. That's Freedom. I want my kids to see a nation bound together in freedom. I want them to know that we have Muslims, and Jews, and Hindus, and Atheists, and so much more in this country. I want them to see us all live together in harmony. As one nation, INDIVISIBLE. With Liberty and Justice for all.

I also hope my kids continue to chose to follow what I believe is the truth in Jesus Christ, whose blood bought an even deeper freedom for me.

Not to preach, because I know not everyone agrees. And if it offends you, then you are too easily offended, and you should go back and read this whole piece again from the beginning.

Freedom is something we were all given by God. I believe that my God gave it to us. If you don't, well, I wish you did, but He gave you that freedom too.

And by living as a citizen in this country, you've been granted similar freedoms, just because you're an American.

So "don't tread on me" for my beliefs. I won't tread on you for yours.


Here's part of that earth shattering document that shattered the chains that held freedom back. I downloaded from the National Archives.

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 entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security

You can read the full text here: National Archive



Happy Fourth Everyone! Feel free to respond by clicking on "comments".