Freedom.

Our ancestors thought about it as they lived in far away lands.

They dreamed of a place where they could own land and raise their families. It was a dream of land, free from government control of how they lived, worked and worshipped. Across a seemingly endless ocean of water was such a place. This place was born in an unknown wilderness and carved out by intrepid explorers. A land of endless bounties of food and game. For some this dream came true as they spent the last of their possessions to cross the atlantic ocean and arrive in America. Freedom existed on the shores of a untamed continent, where stories of all its dangerous beauty filled their minds.

September 11 brought home the harsh realities of the world we live in. Others detest and despise us for the freedoms we have. The attacks of that day were a direct attack on our way a life. It was a wake up call for every citizen of the United States. A lot of us realize now the great blessing of freedom God has given this country. Here, a person can be anything he desires, not what another person tells him he can be. We have the freedom to choose how we live and where we want to go.

In this great land everyone is entitled to equality and fairness from others.

The American civil war totally freed everyone in America. After 4 long and bloody years of conflict, our nation united stronger then it ever had been. There was no longer part free and part slave. From the first shot fired at Lexington Massachusetts in the American revolution, to the the laser guided missiles that destroyed the terrorist strongholds in Afghanistan, others have learned of the deep conscience and pride that America has.

To the world we may appear careless, lazy, and too rich. But once its people become awakened by unprovoked aggression on our land, the world recognized what might God has given this country. We become strongly united when the occasion is needed.

No one can take away or freedom unless we allow it to slip through our hands in decadence. With freedom comes great responsibility. To be totally free we must also have morals that protect that freedom. Laws for that which is right must be made and enforced. The people as a whole must guide the arm of our government to ensure justice and equality for everyone.

When we begin to protect the rights of criminals instead of the victims then we are stumbling down a long dark abyss of destruction. When we assume the lives of animals are worth protecting, yet slaughter innocent babies by the thousands, one wonders where the justice is in that. We must not lose sight of morality in our society.

The greatest freedom we have in America is the freedom to worship as we choose. That is a gift we must never give up. They can take God out of our schools and public places, but they can never take Him out of our hearts and minds.

Freedom come from doing that which is good and right as our Creator intended.

Not what man decides is good and right.

With freedom comes a great responsibility.

Doing that which is right.

by Greg Belcher July 2002