Good morning on this early Saturday morning, June 30th. In a few days it will be Independence Day, the 4th of July. It is typically a day for parades, picnics, fire works, and reunions, but it is so much more - it is the day we officially celebrate our freedom as Americans. During my years as pastor of the Edgewood Baptist Church, I have sometimes had the opportunity to invite Christians who have been imprisoned and even tortured for their faith to give their testimony in our church. Most have been from communist countries where the expression of their faith was strictly forbidden and the consequences for daring to share Christ, preach the word, or even assemble for worship meant certain persecution and loss of freedom. As I would listen to their stories detailing the price they paid for their Christian faith, I always felt grateful that I lived and ministered in a country where we have freedom to speak freely about our faith and openly serve the Lord without fear of recrimination. As we assemble for worship this weekend, thank God we will not fear having government thugs spy on us, intrude into the church service, beat people up or drag them away to prison. Nor will we fear having members of our families being led away in chains to some uncertain fate because of our Christianity. Many Christians are today enduring unspeakable tragedies because they dare to speak the name of Christ. Some will never see the light of day again as they spend the rest of their lives in a dark damp prison cell and numbers will be martyred. This year as we celebrate the 4th of July, let us all give a prayer of thanks for the freedom we share and determine to avail ourselves of that freedom by sharing Christ with others. How tragic it would be to not take advantage of the opportunities which freedom affords us or take our freedom as Americans for granted. Independence Day should also be a reminder to us of our responsibility to strive to preserve our freedom regardless of the cost. Edmund Burke was right when he said that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil was for good men to do nothing! Tomorrow's sermon is another in our series of messages on prophecy. I hope to see you there. Mel Brown