I thank God that I was born in a nation with religious freedom.
I was not born in a religious family, but I was born in a religious state—Mississippi—the belly that the Bible belt is wrapped around.
And because of freedom, Ron Musselman, an upstart Presbyterian youth pastor was allowed to visit my high school every week and do Bible studies during lunch break. Eventually, after about six months of Ron’s pitbull persistence, I turned to Christ in repentance and faith. Many others did the same, and no one went to jail for expressing their faith.
I have been to many nations where people are persecuted and prosecuted for things Americans take for granted. We call them rights. I have friends who have suffered in jail, and some who are still in jail, for living out their Christian faith. They don’t have rights. But they have convictions.
So many of my friends all over the world are ready and willing to make great sacrifices for their faith, while many in the West live anemic spiritual lives. But that is a topic for another blog. This one is about me being thankful for the freedoms my forefathers fought to preserve.
May God bless America with a spiritual revival that results in thousands of missionaries going to restricted and dangerous nations with the gospel.
What do you do with your freedom?
*** Here’s last year’s 4th of July blog. Less serious with a bit of humor.
*** Independence Day sports page. . . Serena beat Venus in the Wimbledon finals, but who cares? THE international sporting event of the day features American Joey “Jaws” Chestnut against Japanese Teru Kobyashi in Nathan’s Famous Hotdog Eating Contest. This is American Pop Culture at its best and worst. Can’t miss TV.
