What a great country we live in, but it’s hard to explain why Only in America:

— There are handicap parking spaces in front of a skating rink.

— Drug stores that make the sick walk all the way to the back to get their prescriptions, while healthy people can buy candy (and even cigarettes) up front.

— Cars worth thousands of dollars parked in the driveway while we fill the garage with junk.

— Banks with Braille on drive-up ATM machines!

America is a uniquely wonderful, crazy and interesting place. And at the heart of the America we all love is the possibility and promise of living in freedom.

Next week, on July 4th, we celebrate Independence Day, bought at a price by men and women who fought and sacrificed for our freedoms.

We also recognize that the freedom we enjoy in this great country is not a perfect or equal freedom. Freedom today for all is still a worthy goal to be worked toward and to dedicate our lives to.

Our mission of bringing Christ’s Gospel to the world has much to do with moving from spiritual slavery to the freedom Christ offers!

Moses led God’s people from slavery to the Promised Land and we are on that same path. Either we are still enslaved or we are in the process of heading to the promised land.

The journey is worth taking and although we experience trials and troubles along the way, it's worth the fight to be free!

2 Co. 4:8 “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.”

2 Co. 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

2 Co. 4:9 “Persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

2 Co. 4:14 “Because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.”

2 Co.4:16 “Therefore we do not lose heart.Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

2 Cor. 4:17 “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us and eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

2 Co. 4:18 “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is seen is eternal.”

2 Cor. 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

We will study together this Sabbath “The Path to Freedom” based on John 8:31-36. 

Jesus said early in his ministry in Luke 4:17-20: 

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

Jesus didn't intend to take over government or revive the religious system of the day. He intended to offer freedom to each person who desired it. In the presence of government oppression, and in the prevailing religious climate at that time, Jesus said: “I have come to give life and life more abundantly”—to those who really want it! The same promise is offered today in Christ's Gospel.

People are still in need of freedom. We can see the inability to perfectly provide freedom in national terms. But each one of us can respond now and they could then as individuals.

Are you ready to receive the sweet freedom only Christ can make a reality in your life?

Have a safe and fun holiday,

Duff and family