1o things to celebrate

[buckthesystem]

I love America and the ideals it STANDS for.

I love the American people. The people ARE America, not the polititians and not the government.

I also fear for the American people. My prayer is that as a people we do not allow our politicians to manipulate us through fear... to the point that we give up the very protections that have made this country the best in the world to live and raise a family.

One of our strengths has always been that we as a people realized that freedom and liberty were worth fighting for, even to the point of death. We need to guard these freedoms. To many have lost life and limb defending our freedoms to allow anyone to give any of them away with a mere stoke of a pen.

God Bless America

I absolutely agree with you KatyAnn, this is an excellent post.

happy fourth of July and remember the spirit of freedom under God!

[anti-hillbilly]

anti,

Did you even read the post?

There is NO seperation of church and state in the constitution.

Let's stay on topic here.

What makes America a great place to live?

I wasn't the one who first strayed off topic; I was addressing the person who did. You should scold them!

I know the words "separation of church and state" are not in the Constitution. However, separation of church and state are clearly outlined in the first amendment to the Bill of Rights. Since it's the very FIRST amendment it must have been quite important to the founders. -- For the stubborn, Thomas Jefferson made the concept crystal clear in his reply to the Danbury Baptists.

What makes America a great place to live? Lots of things!

Clean air and water standards (start to slip a little on this one)

Worker Safety Protections (went backwards here in the mining industry )

A 40 hour work week

Social Security for the Elderly

The Civil Rights Movement

The Equal Rights Movement

Discrimination Protections

Rural Electrification (like TVA)

Child Labor Laws

The Minimum Wage (starting to slip on this one too)

Americans with disabilities Act

The Freedom of Information Act (well this one was good; we're starting to backtrack on it though)

Food and Drug Safety Regulations

Organized Labor

The School Lunch Program

The Voting Rights Act (danger! danger! this one is in danger!)

Other things:

The latest in medical technology and advancements

Diverse churches, plenty to choose from!

Dvds

Cds

cable television

birth control

satellite radio

grocery stores

malls

bookstores and libraries (my favorite place)

gourmet coffee shops

public schools

interstate highway system

satellite radio

It's not perfect; there's more work to be done but still,

if it weren't for the wars going on this would be the best time ever to be alive in the United States! The best time in the history of the world to be alive actually!

The only places that might have it better are Sweden, Norway and Finland so we're doing pretty darned good for the most part.....so far.

[Matthitjah]

The only places that might have it better are Sweden, Norway and Finland so we're doing pretty darned good for the most part.....so far.

Peace,

Dave

[kittylover0991]

lol... ok.... I have one main thing to say... and here it is ...

HAPPY INDEPEDANCE DAY! ! !

LOL, I live in an amazing country... and I absolutely love the original post of this thread... I for one have been of those people that have talked about how this country has been degrading morally and I never relized, although I knew a little, I never realized the extent of just how great our country is.

Today, we celebrate our freedom.. and yes, we have freedom despite what philosophers may try to say.. but freedom isn't free and I for one am proud to be an American and can not be proud enough of the many men and women that have sacrificed their lives and their loved one for this country.... These men and women have denied themselves and looked at the lives of others, even those that refuse to support them, and they showed love. They risked their lives and everything they have/had to fight for the freedom that many of us take for granted today. It is just such a blessing to live in this country.

Yes.. they are always trying for that "freedom of church and state" and yes our country is slowing being degraded by such.... but what a blessing to live in a country where I CAN worhsip my God without fear of the police coming in and breaking up the service ... there are missionaries who tell stories of other countries where this has occured. What a blessing.. sure.. someone says something here and there that gets me a little upset, but a little persecution for the gospel's sake!

Even better, we live in a country where we can tell others about Christ .. what a blessing... and we do live in comfort although we take it for granted. And yes, racism is still prevelant today becuase of affirmative action... but look what has been done to try and stop this discrimination.... instead of complaining about things, we shoudl try to help.

I guess what I am most thankful for is that freedoms that I have in this country.. to worship my God freely... but I am more thankful for those that have served for this country in the many aspects.. wether it be through teaching young children to live in society today, construction, working in the gov't for it's betterment, and even those that are stuck doing those messy jobs that we wouldnt' dare humble ourselves to do. More than anything else, I am thankful for those that have served our country... the generation before us was willing to die that we might be free. I am thankful for those loved ones who are over in Iraq and risking their lives everyday that we might have freedom.

I am thankful for my parents who served our country for over twenty years.. thankful for those Vietname veterans who continued to fight although ridiculed when their own men would spit on them at their return... and I am thankful for those many who have died. Every single one of those is someone's child.. maybe a husband, wife, sister, brother.. grandparent.. dear friend.. or cheerished loved one...

We need to stand and be thankful for everything in America. What a blessing it is to live here.

Today, we celebrate our independance day.

Crytal

[Giaour]

Kitty,

FABULOUS POST!

[RustyAngeL]

Things to celebrate on this day??? family BBQ's Parades down Main Street and Old Glory flying high and proud! Saying " thank you" to those who fought so hard to give us these wonderful freedoms.

[Giaour]

Amen!

Freedom costs.

We should know that by the cost Jesus paid for our freedom.

[IraBenYahweh]

Is any one posting here truly greatfull?

Read me.

Signed

ONE LONE RIDER

[kittylover0991]

Ben,

Honestly, I don't understand why you ask if us here are truly greatful. I am extremely greatful for what I have... I have clothes on my back... food on my plate.. a roof over my head.. shoes on my feet.. I have a public school system(although corrupt) in which I can spread the gospel.. where I can learn how to read, write, count, analyze, compare, experiment, and come up with my own ideas... We have a wonderful President right now who I believe with my whole heart is saved... I live in a country where I am free.. I live in a country where men and women die everyday for your freedom... I am entirely grateful...

As for the many parts of society that are corrupt, yes... all have their downfalls.. but look at us! We were born in sin... filthy rotten sinners... the bible says our righteiousness is as filthy rags.. but Jesus came and died for us... and he saved me from the pits of hell although I was a dirty rotten sinner... I am not one of those people that have my hair dyed funky colors, I don't have a mouth that curses every other word, I don't dress like a slut, I am not hooked on any form of drugs, I am not bound by sexual immorality anymore... my Lord has saved me and kept me from a lot of things... I am entirely grateful.

When the battles come, the afflictions are merely small, but I have my eyes on the cross becuaes I know that Jesus will carry me through.. he will give me the strenght to go through anything and I will stand at the end because the Lord is in my heart and He is my all and all. I'll fail many times, but He is everything that I can possibly need.

Better yet, the Lord provided this country based on the morals of His Word and I truly live in the best country there ever was.... As with man, it has it's problems.. it's little "issues" here and there... Yes, we have a problem with the abortion rate growing.. but we have a problem with teh school system teaching students that it's alright to have sex before marraige.. and oh yes.. here is how to do it.. here is how to use certain medications or applications in order for it to be "safe" (I just sat through this last year)... and yes, we have a problem with children not respecting a authority.. we have a problem with parents not raising their children up in the Lord and not spanking their children because our society calls that "abuse".. my bible says that if the parents refrains the rod from teh child, they hate them.

We have a society that is teaching tolerance... and intolerance towards Christianity. But do you know what? As horrible as it may be, I and many others, have the opportunity that many others do not.. to stand up for what is right in this country and say "No, my bible says that is wrong" or "I can't do that because it hurts my God".... we can chooose to do what is right and we have the opportunity to tell others that murdering and innocent unborn child is wrong and we have the privaledge of telling someone that that filth of TV is wicked and that we shouldnt' be caught in that sexual immorality(whatever it may be) and we dont' have to be a drunk or a drug addict and we don't HAVE to be like that world.... I am entirely grateful for my salvaiton and I am entirely grateful for the freedom that I still have in this country. I am entirely grateful and I know many others on here are too.

We aren't sitting back and doing nothing, althugh most are. There are many that are starting churches and I know that my church personally goes around every single saturday morning and we go and knock on doors... leading souls to Christ and inviting them out to church where they can here the Word preached.. where they can hear "Christ Crucified and risen from the dead for our sins". I am entirely grateful.

Crystal

Oh how I love this country.

[Giaour]

Well said.

Try doing any of that in a muslim country.