Happy 4th of July to all readers of my website! Instead of a serious topic to discuss on the 250th Birthday of the United States of America, I decided to offer something brief and uplifting to all. There are many serious issues to consider, but the 250th Anniversary is a rare national birthday, indeed. Given the many issues that divide Americans, we can at least celebrate the fact that the nation has survived so many wars, upheavals and crises in its 250 year life.
It makes me feel old to remember that I helped observe the 200th Anniversary of America as a young man. I was working in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area in 1976. I recall one of the national observances was the Bicentennial Train, which traveled around the railroad systems of America with a precious cargo of America’s famous documents, photographs, artifacts, etc. on the train. It was like a patriotic traveling museum stocked with important items from the National Archives and the Smithsonian Institute of Washington, DC. It was a very moving experience, but we had only so much time to pause and take in the significance of what we were looking at. Many people wanted to see the contents of that once-in-a-lifetime train so we had to keep the line moving so all could see what the train was carrying. I feel blessed to have been able to observe two fifty-year milestones in our nation’s history.
On July 4th this year, President Trump will be speaking at Mt. Rushmore here in South Dakota. It is scheduled to have a terrific fireworks display. I can recall attending a fireworks display on July 4th one year when my children were much younger, and it resulted in a rush of patriotic feelings seeing the fireworks display with the faces of four of our most important presidents being illuminated by lights and fireworks. It will, no doubt, be a memorable show here in South Dakota this year.
I will soon resume the discussion and examination of those serious matters and trends in the world which are harbingers that biblical prophecies about the “latter days” are being fulfilled in our time. However, we do need to pause and celebrate that our nation is still together and has grown to be the most powerful and influential nation on earth. Amidst our celebrations, we should remember that all our blessings come from our Creator and we should all spend some time in prayer thanking our Maker for his blessings on our nation. In spite of the many serious things happening in our nation and world, I pray that his blessings will continue.
I will conclude with a portion of a Bible verse that is appropriate to our 250th Anniversary celebration:
“…Happy is that people whose God is the Lord.”
Enjoy the excellent fireworks display in the attached link. It is incredible what technology can create!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HkAS6nrcG4
