Rev Bill

I’ll be leaving early in the morning for the youth work camp in Athens, GA — so here are some of my thoughts about America and July 4.

To put it mildly, I love July 4! I love the fireworks and the celebration of America. I want to play Soussa marches and I love watching the Boston Pops concert with The 1812 Overture — the church bells of Boston adding to the concert along with army canons.

I can’t deny it — I love America!

But - why do I love America?

I love America for what it is — the freedoms that are ours as Americans — but I also love America because of what it can be. In a democracy, there is always the potential for creating a country where God’s will for liberty, justice, love, and freedom is a reality.

I believe that this was the dream of our founders — and it is still a dream worth dreaming of and fighting for. As long as we believe in this dream — and commit ourselves to praying for it and working for it — we will continue to strive for the greatness that is — and can continue to be — ours as Americans.

I am going with 7 young people and 2 other adults from the Church next week on a Work Camp to Athens GA. The camp — sponsored by Group Work Camps — should be a great way for our group to connect with each other — with others — grow in our faith — and show God’s love to those in need.

I am volunteering with Group Work Camps for the week so I’ll be going tomorrow — the others will come Sunday.

Pray that we will all have safe travels, and that God will bless us and use us to be a blessing to others.

I have posted my sermon from yesterday on my sermon blog. It’s the third in my summer series on God’s answers to our questions — this one taken from Colossians 3:12-17 and entitled: “Do I Have To Put Up With You”?

Here’s a portion of it:

Some time ago rock music legends Keith Richards – guitarist for the Rolling Stones — and Elton John made the news with public insults of one another. Keith said that Elton John is a “Vegas act” and that his career now consists of “writing songs for dead blondes.” (You might remember that Elton John wrote memorial a songs for Marilyn Monroe and that he rewrote it at the death of Princess Diana.) Elton responded to Keith’s remarks by saying, “He’s so pathetic. It’s like a monkey with arthritis trying to go on stage and look young.” What surprises me most about this interchange is that both men participated. Both are extremely famous, extremely successful (by rock music standards), extremely rich, and extremely busy. Yet they each found time to prepare and publicly deliver cheap-shots directed at the other. The result was that they both wound up looking petty and vindictive.

You can read the sermon here.

Here’s an article about how some young people are changing livews — and the community around them. I thought we needed to see some good things in the midst of the Sanford scandal!

BTW — I will be going with 7 youth and 2 more adults to Athens GA for a mission trip much like the one in the article in 2 weeks. Looking forward to it!

Here is a link to an article about how impeachment works in South Carolina. While Sanford’s actions may not be impeachable, they certainly show a lack of judgment — and character. Prayers are needed for him. his family, and the state as he wrestles with what he should do.