Happy Fourth of July
Traveling around facebook and the blogs today I am noticing that not everyone is taking this national birthday lightly and with a joyous heart. Of course one would expect the usual, "America was born in bloodshed and tyranny ..." narrative that has some basis in truth over how Native American and African (eventually African Americans) were treated. This year I also ran into this article in Christianity Today which questions whether Christian justification for the revolution was Biblically appropriate or not. Fascinating. Then of course many of my Christian facebook friends talk about how the United States or public policy is not God and the only true freedom can be found in Jesus Christ. Amen. All of that said, as far as worldly systems go, I like the freedom to be found in America. I love our opinionated very verbal people. Even when we don't make sense I love us for trying!  I respect our three federal branches of government (Executive, Legislative and Judicial) of checks and balances. I love the Constitution and individual States Rights.  I love that we can call one President a hero and another a naive utopianist and not worry about being thrown in prison.

Seriously, there is not a lot of places in the world where you can criticize leaders.  And in case you are wondering, I think Lincoln was a hero and Wilson a naive utopianist. Freedom of Assembly, religious conscience/liberty, to vote, to explore, to build, to create and even to respect self-determination of others bent on disrespecting our own. We have a lot of freedom in this country that is taken for granted.  While it is tempting to blast the economic crisis, the oil catastrophe, Congress, our history, The President, the culture war between hippie libbers and wingnuts ... I am going to be mindful of the great things that God has blessed us with here in America. Hippie libbers and wingnuts need love too. <-- I don't say that out of any snarkiness ... just trying to be playful. So here is a list of ten things I am grateful to live in America for (no particular order:)

1. Freedom of Speech and Press
2. Freedom of religion (conscience/liberty). I can worship my God openly and without worry.
3. The right to vote
4. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
5. Freedom of Assembly - in every social aspect/grouping but personally how that protects my churches right to assemble in the name of Jesus Christ.
6. The fact that Lady Gaga can exist and I can still not buy her album if I don't want to.
7. Our very opinionated and verbal people
8. Our amazing cities and culture(s).
9. Art, Science ... all intellectual disciplines flourish here.
10. The best military in the world.

There are many more reasons but I will leave it at that.  If you live in the United States ... what are you grateful for?  If you don't live in the United States ... I'd still love to hear your thoughts. Happy Fourth everybody!