Celebrate Freedom

Today I will be carrying on the Messner tradition of putting on an amateur fireworks display for friends. I think I can at least trace this propensity back to my Grandpa Messner who enjoyed making some extremely loud, home-made fireworks. My brother Kendall and I used to enjoy our back yard burning barrell where we liked tossing in an occasional aerosal can. I think my parents wondered where all the hair spray, WD40, and spray paint went.

This past weekend Pastor Jim said that I am a "pyromaniac". Personally, I think I am rather tame compared to the other person who is really in charge of our annual fireworks display. And I must go on record to say that my donation to our 4th of July display is about 10% of the total cost of the fireworks -- Not nearly near the total cost that was spent on all of them (the amount I was rumored to have spent). It would be immoral for me to spend more than that.

I laugh about it and try to remind myself that this is all an act of patriotism anyway.

The 4th of July is a reminder to me of the value of true freedom. Yes, it is great living in a "free" nation. I have travelled all over the world and I know how blessed we are with our basic human rights and the opportunities that we have to live comfortable and safe lives.

But true freedom isn't a politcal climate or a national reality. Many people here do not know freedom. They are slaves to oppressive influences such as chemical addictions, behavioral patterns and emotions.

Galatians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."

Romans 8:1-3 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering."

So embrace and enjoy your true freedom. I don't have to be an addict. I don't have to be a slave to sinful behavior. I don't have to hurt people around me. There is a joy and liberation that comes where I don't fee condemned and I can choose to live in a Kingdom where liberty truly rules!

Happy 4th of July. Feel free to comment and share how you appreciate freedom in your own life.