If one word could describe the major characteristic of the United States, that word would be freedom. The Puritans sought religious freedom from tyranny. The colonists sought political freedom. The slaves sought physical freedom. And more than any other nation in modern history, America has been known as a harbor of freedom for millions seeking refuge from persecution and hope for a new life. Of course, the exercise of freedom has its price and its struggles--there will be no perfect place of freedom until the Lord Jesus returns to establish genuine peace on earth.
But having lived and worked on three continents, I can attest to the privilege that is ours as Americans compared to many other countries and cultures. Even when we sometimes have less than honorable leaders, our nation remains strong, as it was founded by men who possessed not only a forward-looking political strategy that would see America through the best and worst of times, but also a predominantly humble acknowledgement of God, whom they routinely honored in their writings and in the documents that shaped the founding and formation of our nation.
Dr. Jerry Bergman has captured a bit of this emphasis in our feature article, "Celebrating Our Freedom, Honoring Our Creator." All 50 states within our nation have in some way engraved, as it were, their acknowledgement of God in their individual constitutions. This is a good reminder to all who love freedom--and especially those of us who live in this great land--that while America today may not always look like a Christian nation, its foundation and guiding principles remain intimately linked to the biblical truths that have guided civilizations for millennia.
Celebrate this 4th of July with gusto, but also with gratitude.
Speaking of July, the temperatures in Texas are soaring. Those of us who live here forget that there's snow and ice elsewhere during our summertime. Dr. Larry Vardiman, ICR's expert in climate change, in this month's Impact column, "New Evidence for Global Cooling," shows how the evidence contradicts much of the hype of the global warming environmental lobby. You might want a hot cup of cocoa as you read it!
This month and next we are continuing our Summer Clearance Sale, featuring many items up to 81% off the retail price! Call our store at 800.628.7640 or visit www.icr.org/store and click on the "Summer Sale" link for complete details. Quantities are limited, so don't delay!
Did you miss one of our Demand the Evidence conferences last fall? Look for details at icr.org for news about additional conferences this year and make plans to attend. Or, purchase the Demand the Evidence DVD set, which features all eight messages from last year. Call customer service for details.
I hope you're enjoying your summer holidays and trust that you won't forget the ministries of ICR as you travel on vacation. In fact, you can keep up-to-date with our Days of Praise devotional and our other daily news feeds through email and on your mobile phone.
God bless you as you communicate the wonders of our Creator to those around you, and God bless America!
* Mr. Ford is Executive Editor at the Institute for Creation Research.
Cite this article: Ford, L. 2010. Celebrating with Gusto and Gratitude. Acts & Facts. 39 (7): 3.
