I grew up in the city. A rather large one at that. 4th of July as a kid was so much fun! My uncles would drive out of state to get the really good fireworks and we'd have a nice show right in front of us without having to go too far away. Sparklers, firecrackers, things that go boom and light up the sky. It was memorable ... happy memories.

At the time though, I didn't know or understand what we were celebrating. For me the 4th was about fireworks, food, family, and fun ... I had no real grasp beyond that, on what it was really all about.

Fast forward to now. I'm older (hopefully a bit wiser) and now I possess a much greater understanding of these things.

Our 4th started out with us heading out to church. As you know, the 4th fell on a Saturday this year. So yes we're not only Christians but, we're also Sabbath-keepers as we have not seen any evidence in Scripture that the seventh-day Sabbath or the observance of it has been abrogated or changed (but we welcome any kind instruction to set us straight if we're wrong on this matter in the comments section below).

There was a parade in the small little town where our church is and it was a hot day so we handed out bags to the parade watchers and participants containing water, popcorn, and interesting reading materials about God, Freedom, and Country. They were well received by the majority of those we gave them to and we had a nice time out in the community with our church family.

Afterwards, we headed back to the homestead and decided that after dark we would watch the fireworks. But we didn't really want to drive anywhere. We're nearly two hours from the nearest big city, not quite an hour from the nearest moderate sized one, and about 30 minutes from the nearest small town (you can understand now why we didn't want to drive). So we decided to sit in the truck bed and watch the fireworks from a distance. We can see for many miles from where we are and sure enough we saw fireworks from two different locations!

Granted it was a bit underwhelming (Random thought: Is it possible to just be whelmed?) as we were too far away to hear anything and the lights didn't look terribly impressive for the most part, from our supposed vantage point. Ally pulled up fireworks on her phone so we could at least have the sound of a fireworks show as we watched ... lol. I know, kinda lame but it worked. When Meena first heard it, not realizing that it was just a phone, she thought that there were actually fireworks nearby lol. All-in-all it was fun. We were blessed to all be together and to be able to enjoy the freedoms that we still have.

True Freedom

While this is not a religious blog and we don't necessarily go into detail much about our faith as our focus here is more on building and homesteading, I found myself musing on what real, true freedom is. I come from a rather large family and we have war veterans amongst us. They fought on faraway battlefields and saw death up close and personal. Much blood was shed on those fields so that we could enjoy the freedoms we have today.

But there is a greater battle waging and the stakes are much higher. A Great Controversy, if you will, is being fought over the souls of each of us. There is no discharge from this war. No neutral side. Whether we like it or not, we all have to make a choice as to whose side we're on. There is a side representing good and one representing evil. I'm not talking about ying and yang. I'm talking about Christ and Satan. The blood of Jesus was shed in this war to offer us true freedom. And what is true freedom? Its freedom from sin in all its myriad forms. Freedom from hatred, unforgiveness, lust, anger, avarice, gluttony, dishonesty, envy, you name it ... Jesus offers freedom from it if we'll accept it.

And one day, (a day not too far off from now) He will come again and take His people home. If you're a believer, you know that this world is not our home. We seek a better country, that is, an heavenly (Hebrews 11:16). One day I'll see my dear mother again and never more will we be parted by death or anything for that matter. Heaven is a real place. Jesus is our only Savior. Salvation is a free gift for any and all who will accept it.

Do you want true freedom? Choose Jesus. He is indeed The Way, The Truth, and The Life. (John 14:6)

Promises That Cannot Be Broken

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
- John 14:1-3

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
- Revelation 21:1-4

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
- Revelation 22:1-5