Friday, July 04, 2008

Independence Day (United States)

A Prayer for our Country from the Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion us into one united people. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in your Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Declaration of Independence

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 abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation upon 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 shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are long accustomed. But [our grievances are neither light nor transient, and a list of them follows….]

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good people of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

10 comments:

Shammickite said...

Ted, don't take the dog to the fireworks, that's mean!
But have a happy 4th of July in spite of that.

Martin Stickland said...

Hope tonight goes with a bang Ted and do not forget the nappy (that's Dyper to you!) for the dog.

Have a good day!

All is forgiven and you can all come back to England the mother land now!

Ted M. Gossard said...

Thanks, Ex-Shammickite. Well, my wife insists on taking her if we go. She's been there before, Deb says.

But thanks. I wonder if Canada Day is nearly as big over there as Independence Day is here. Though I guess that all depends on how you see the day, what meaning it really has, for anyone.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Yes, good heads up, Martin. We'll take the sack or sacks along just in case we see her do it.

Thanks for the offer. But I don't think England would want us back. And you no longer have to be the world empire as we've taken that over for now. It must be a relief. (sorry for the rather political statement on this holiday, but I couldn't help but say it)

MAKE SURE ANY READERS GO TO MARTIN'S BLOG AND GET A LOAD OF HIS BRITTISH APPAREL OVER THERE, JUST FOR THIS DAY!

lorenzothellama said...

Happy 4th July Ted!
Love Lorenzo

Halfmom, AKA, Susan said...

"in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail"

It does have a way of waivering a bit when things are tiring or confusing or just plain painful, doesn't it?

Ted M. Gossard said...

Lorenzo,

Thanks! A most beautiful day here, just right for the holiday. Hope your day and weekend is lovely as well!

Ted M. Gossard said...

Susan,
You're so right. I'm glad for grace, for God's grace that is. To forgive and get us back to our senses and on track.

Just talking to my sister today and all that she has to go through, and knowing others and what they're going through, and in my own world knowing what I'm going through.

And in all of that God wants and I believe even values our trust in him. Through all the trial and pain.

And we can pray for each other, and rejoice when things go well, as well as weep and be a comfort in the Lord, hopefully, when they don't- for each other.

I just want the discernment and gift to be truly walking with the Lord daily, and for others to be impacted somehow by that, that in turn God may impact still more through them. Or at least that I'll really do this myself so that this will stand out to me as the most important aspect of my life.

I want to really learn this in my life much better and do it here at home with Deb and with others in the faith.

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Hope you've had a safe and happy Independence Day!

Blessings,
-bill

Ted M. Gossard said...

Bill,
It was fun tonight as we headed out and caught a pretty nice fireworks display from a pretty nice location.

It would be even more fun to have some fireworks with some guys and shoot some off. I'm in the fireworks shooting mood this year, don't know why, really, because I'm not even that crazy about going to see them in the past.

But it's a nice tradition and event in our nation. Much to be thankful for here, to be sure.

Always very good to hear from you. Blessings on you and yours as well!