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This is it. The last blog from Jerusalem until I return in the Fall. Thank you all for reading it and for your comments. I really thought that my family would be the only ones reading the blog. Little did I know that you all really liked hearing what is going on in Israel. Thank you also for your prayers. They have meant so much to me and my family.

Happy 4th of July…..

I think Gary Bauer says it best in his column:

Tuesday, July 3, 2007
To: Friends & Supporters
From: Gary Bauer

Independence Day Message

In recent weeks I have kept up a regular stream of reports on the struggles confronting our country. As the 231st birthday of America dawns tomorrow, let us set aside these concerns for a moment.

Instead, let us look back to that day in 1776 when 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence and birthed a nation that was to become a “shining city on a hill,” the guardian of liberty and the leader of the free world.

They were merchants, farmers, clergymen and lawyers, men who stood to lose their wealth and standing in society for signing their names to that document we cherish today. All their lives they had served as loyal subjects of the king. They were all educated men who understood what they were undertaking by rebelling against the British Empire.

While honoring their courage, Americans often forget the sufferings of the Founding Fathers. For the most part, the War for Independence destroyed the lives of these men.

John Hart, signer from New Jersey, had to flee the deathbed of his wife, leaving his 13 children to disperse into hiding from the British, who vandalized his farm. Returning a year later to find that his wife had passed away, his children were missing, and his livelihood had been destroyed. He died within weeks, dejected and alone.

Carter Braxton, a signer from Virginia, had his fortunes destroyed by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died impoverished.

At the Battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., signer from Virginia, encouraged General Washington to fire on Nelson’’s own house, which was being used as a headquarters by General Cornwallis. Without a home, and having lost his fortunes in the war, Nelson died bankrupt.

These are just a few examples of the sacrifices these men made for the United States when it was little more than an idea. Countless more over the history of this nation have given their lives for the cause of liberty. And today in Iraq and Afghanistan, Americans are sacrificing again for our nation.

As we celebrate and enjoy our freedoms on this Independence Day, let us not forget the daily sacrifices of our men and women overseas. Let us rededicate our hearts to our country and “with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence and mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

In closing, I would like to offer a brief word of encouragement to our pastors who are on the front lines of the culture war. John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg is a lesser-known hero of the War for Independence. He was a pastor and a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In 1775, a year before the United States of America was to be born, he preached a sermon on Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” Pastor Muhlenberg closed his sermon with, “In the language of Holy Writ, there is a time for all things. There is a time to preach and a time to fight. And now is the time to fight.” And temporarily shedding his clerical robes, he revealed to the congregation that he was wearing the uniform of an officer in the Continental Army.

Pastor Muhlenberg’s message is inspiring to all Americans. But his example as a man of God fighting for our God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness should give increased fervor and devotion most especially to those who lead us in the fight for faith, family and freedom.

God bless you, God bless Israel and God bless America!

This entry was posted by Sandra on Wednesday, July 4th, 2007 at 7:20 am and is filed under From Israel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.