Jefferson says

Greetings in this week of Independence Day as we celebrate the birth of our nation.  I’m Lee Harder, senior pastor at the Red Roof Church in Bulverde, Texas inviting you to join us this Sunday as we worship our Lord, Jesus Christ. Our worship celebrations are at 8:30AM and 10:45AM.  St. Paul is a community of believers “Where God’s Word Is Heard” every week and we would love to have you be a part of our family.
 
As we celebrate the 4th, hopefully you will be doing more than shooting off fireworks and having the backyard barbeque.  It’s a good time to remember what this nation stands for and it definitely isn’t what too many ill-informed individuals are constantly spouting off about.  As I mentioned a few weeks ago when I started this patriotic series of Vlogs, Thomas Jefferson clearly had a eye for the future and some of the problems that we are facing today.  Let me share some of the quotes I ran across that have application to our issues today.

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."  As the political parties are already trotting up their potential candidates, I am constantly hearing the word “FREE”.  Free education, free medical care, free housing, and freedom from student debt to name but a few.  Who pays for this FREE stuff?  As someone who took out student loans for seminary, worked 50 plus hours a week as a janitor, did supply preaching throughout Minnesota, northern Iowa and western  Wisconsin at least two and often three weekends a month all on top of going to school full time, I don’t recall FREE entering the conversation.  I also paid back my student loans and we helped out kids pay back theirs.  Jefferson was right, our democracy will cease because those advocating a free lunch will always vote in the ones who will provide the Free card.  Into that mix I will add another quote which says: "It is incumbent on every generation to pay its' own debts as it goes.  A principle which if acted on, would save one-half the wars of the world."   

Here are two more quotes concerning our already bloated and constantly expanding government that Jefferson foresaw as a potential threat.  "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people, under the pretense of taking care of them.” and "My reading of history convinces me that most bad government  results from too much government."

Boy have we got too much government and this idiocy that we need more  staggers even my imagination.  Sadly, both parties are guilty despite claims to the contrary.  I don’t need the government to be my mother or father.  Maybe it’s long overdue that we set term limits on our elected officials in the  Congress and Senate.  They don’t seem to have the same integrity as that evil slave owner, George Washington (sarcasm on my part), when he set his own limits for the presidency.  A wise, God-fearing man of profound wisdom he was. Unfortunately traits seemingly absent in our elected officials in Washington, D.C. who have become career parasites on the nation.

To those who desire to TAKE all the guns from the citizenry of this democracy, I offer these quotes from Jefferson.  "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." and "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."   Just as our forefathers fought against the tranny of Great Britain when this nation was founded, it is not beyond the realm of imagination to realize the same necessity in our own times should the government come into the control of fanatics who are obsessed with ruling and not governing a free democracy of free  people. 
 
​Should you have some doubts about such a thing happening, please note the vote in California recently to push religious institutions (I suspect Christian in particular) to accept the LGBT whatever communities sexual lifestyles as normal.  In addition, any attempt to not embrace such  understanding via literature, speech or activity would run contrary to the position of the state government probably opening up a series of lawsuits to rein in such attitudes.  I think that qualifies as a government run amuck.
Remember what we celebrate on the 4th  —  freedom and liberty for all in a nation founded under God and His authority, guidance and blessing whether you believe it or not.

And those are my thoughts.
Have a great and safe 4th of July.  God bless and keep your powder dry, your ears open, your eyes clear and your heart in God’s keeping.
Pastor Lee