Happy Independence Day!

We would like to share some of our favorite quotes from our founding fathers. We have a great book called "America's God and Country" which shares a little about many different men and women that influenced America and a few of their quotes. It focuses especially on their view of Christianity. We took most of these quotes from that book.

"It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible."

~George Washington

"The right to freedom being the gift of the Almighty...The rights of the colonists as Christians...may be best understood by reading and carefully studying the institution of the The Great Law Giver and Head of the Christian Church, which are to be found clearly written and promulgated in the New Testament."

~Samuel Adams

God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever."

~Thomas Jefferson

"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard and they were graciously answered All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor....And have we now forgotten this powerful Friend? Or do we imagine we no longer need His assistance?" "I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: 'that God governs in the affairs of man.' And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this."

~Benjamin Franklin

When the Declaration of Independence was signed, Samuel Adams declared:

"We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come."

Just a thought; before we attempt to prove or disprove whether each founding father was or was not a Christian, we have to acknowledge something. The founding fathers whether professing Christians or not, thought and lived like more like Christians than most professing believers today! Just take a look at their words and actions. Here's one last quote that we love very much.

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."

~Patrick Henry

My parents grew up in California where it was against the law to do fireworks. My Dad is now making up for lost time!!

The sparklers are always a hit. These were pretty smoky!

We had some red, white, and blue ones which were neat.

Grand Finale

The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

"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."