History of July 4th

Lee's words were the impetus for the drafting of a formal Declaration of Independence, although the resolution was not followed up on immediately. On June 11, consideration of the resolution was postponed by a vote of seven colonies to five, with New York abstaining. How- ever, a Committee of Five was appointed to draft a statement presenting to the world the colonies' case for independence. Members of the Committee included John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Thomas Jefferson of Virginia. The task of drafting the actual document fell on Jefferson. On July 1, 1776, the Continental Congress reconvened, and on the following day, the Lee Resolution for independence was adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies, New York not voting. Discussions of Jefferson's Declaration of Independence resulted in some minor changes, but the spirit of the document was unchanged. The process of revision continued through all of July 3 and into the late afternoon of July 4, when the Declaration was officially adopted. Of the 13 colonies, nine voted in favor of the Declaration, two -- Pennsylvania and South Carolina -- voted No, Delaware was undecided and New York abstained. John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence. It is said that John Hancock's signed his name "with a great flourish" so England's "King George can read that without spectacles!" Today, the original copy of the Declaration is housed in the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and July 4 has been designated a national holiday to commemorate the day the United States laid down its claim to be a free and independent nation.

As we celebrate our independence as a nation we also need to stand against evil in our world today. As we as we like those brave men who changed the course of history by standing up for what they believed, and not letting others opinions affect their convictions. We too need to stand up for justice and human dignity and treat everyone the way that God treats them with love and respect. We have a much greater gift to share with the world and we just need the confidence to take our message out into the world and change it. God’s love and forgiveness is much more powerful than any declaration of independence. It is life giving and it will bring them much more freedom and peace.

As we celebrate our independence - let us really celebrate our freedom from sin and death.

Yes independence is important and is worth celebrating but so is life in Jesus Christ.
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Happy 4th  of July.
 
Rev. Steve