Putting things into perspective

Every year my family and I have taken the last week of July and first week of August off.  It is a time for me to rest and to plug back into my family and walk closer to the Lord.  There is this prayer tower that I like to go to along the Lake that is pictured here to the left.  This picture reminds me of several things and first and foremost is that I have to realize that no matter how much I think that things under control - I don't.  This picture reminds me that Jesus has it all - from begging to end.When I try to put my worries, my stresses or even my successes in front of God's will for my life - I stumble.  When I try to walk in His word and trust in him over everything I can see things culminate into a symphony of life that God has ordained for me.  To put it simply - He has it all.

What I love most about this picture is that it reminds me that no matter how much I love my wife, my son and my two daughters, that I cannot love them more than Jesus does.  He paid the ultimate price.  This doesn't mean that I wouldn't jump in front of a bus or run into a burning building or trade my life for my family, because I know in my heart and my mind and my body, soul and strength that I would.  That is not what matters here, because not only does God love my wife and children more than me, He sent His Son to die for me.  To raise from the dead and to now sit at His right hand.  Because of this, God has given me His Holy Spirit and calls me to a life of purity and righteousness for Him.  Jesus Christ's righteousness has been imputed in me - I am now as white as snow with God - thanks be to Jesus.

He loves me, oh how He loves me.  He died for me and His blood has covered me.

All praise and honor  and glory be to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Blessings,

Dante

Why the Church

When you think about life, the Bible and God's plan for us, it is amazing to think and believe that God chose us.  God chooses to use us to build His kingdom.  God chooses us to share his love.  God chooses us to share His Son, Jesus Christ, to the world.  We are called by the Son to go and make disciples unto all the world.  Remember the important narrative here in that God chooses us!In His wonderful creation and word, God shows us the importance of community.  After all, in the beginning God created (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) everything.  The older I get the more I see man's hypothesis and science give way to the Truth, to the Way and to the life given to us by God the Father.  God shows us the importance of community by Himself, His Son and His Spirit who are three-in-one and one-in-three.  That is a concept that is way above my understanding, yet when you test it against the truth in Scripture that is the only way that it could be.  God gives us community by the living, breathing, and awe-inspiring love that He has for us.

Ephesians 3:9-10 (ESV)  9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in[a] God who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Community is a very important part of God's mission.   God made us to be in community, we crave community.  He exemplifies true community in the Holy Trinity.  He wants to model this some community in the Church, the body of Christ.  We are to love each other and to continue to do good to each other in brotherly (and sisterly( love).  The more that we let the Spirit bless us with His fruit (for the Fruit of the Spirit is: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control).  This is fruit that should pour out of our lives, in community, when we bear the name Jesus as Savior.

When Jesus was on this earth he exemplified this model to us all through walking with His disciples and having them walk with others along the way.  Remember, in the Gospels, that there was a point where Jesus sends out the disciples two by two and Scripture reveals to us that there are 70 disciples plus the twelve with Jesus.  Where did these 70 come from?   The answer is simple:  Through community.

Do you remember where Jesus is talking to Peter about the church and references him in regards to on this rock, he will build His church.  This is not a reference to any specific religion, rather, this is referencing the Church - God's church.

When we are in community and doing God's will, then we can see His purpose and wonderful path that he has for each and everyone of us.  How can we do this:

Be in community

Serve together

Share God's love story together

Read the Bible daily

Pray often

Walk with other brothers (if you are a man) and with other sisters (if you are a woman)

In all you do, do in love and forgiving each other (in the church) as God has forgiven you

Love one another

In all you do, Coram Deo.

Blessings,

Dante

Cleaning House

If you are like me and you have/had older parents than you can appreciate the phrase that "we have to clean house".  My mother died in March of 2011, which was a year after they went to assisted living as the doctors believed that they were too old to take care of themselves in their own home.  This was a hard transition for my parents and my siblings as they were not to keen on change.  It was particularly harder for my sister and I who literally took over the financial (me) and medical (my sister) while the other two siblings opted out.

In this transition we finally had to come to terms on cleaning out the house.  After renting the house, putting things in storage and finally selling the house, then we had to clean out the house.  It truly epitomizes the term, "IT all goes back in the box".  In talking with friends and other distant family members, we all find ourselves in the point in our lives, be it family members, parents, relatives and or friends and church community where we have to clean out the house and help them clean out.

Society constantly bombards us with the solicitations on television, radio and social media that we have to have more.  They say that we deserve more and believe that we are all entitled to more.  It doesn't matter if we make $12,000 or $50,000 or six or even seven digit incomes - society and its marketeers tells us - buy it, spend it, enjoy it - we deserve a break today.

As Christians, we know that if we truly were honest with the phrase - we deserve a break today, that would not be possible without the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  Because of God's love for us - sending His Son to die for us and to pay the cost for our sins - we will be saved.  Not only must we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, we have to transform through the repentance of our heart.

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) A Living Sacrifice 12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.[b] 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.[d].

Colossians 3 (ESV) Put On the New Self 3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your[a] life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[b] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d] with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e] free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

As we grow in our walks and truly understand the call to stewardship in our lives, we will realize a few important facts

• We only have a short amount of time on this earth (our days are numbered)
• We have been given gifts by the Spirit to honor God with (our talents are not our on)
• We have to be responsible for our time
• We have to be responsible for our talent
• We have to be accountable for our treasure (that has been given to us by God)
• What we put in is what we get out (meaning Garbage in = Garbage out versus Treasure in = treasure out (the word of God))

If you have ever been like me in the situation that I was in with my parents house (and even my house) then you start to realize the thing about most Americas that is extremely relevant to our every day lives, especially as Christians - we have all been given too much stuff.  I do not care whether your are rich or poor or somewhere in between - the US is truly blessed by its resources.   The lesson that I learned through this chapter in my life is that it is not fair to push my stuff onto the next generation (our kids and their kids).  It is not right to burden them with too much stuff (this is a whole other post) and that in the end, when we meet God at the Judgement Seat of Christ - he is not going to ask us, as Christians, what stuff did we acquire and how much did we do in our name (instead of His).  Instead, those that know and show fruit of being sons and daughters of God will be asked what we have done in His name and how did we use our gifts (time, talent and treasure) to honor Him.

I have shared with my wife a few things during this process that I want to leave a legacy with my kids:

• Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, body, soul and strength
• Love our neighbor (our sisters and brothers) as ourselves
• To not idolize stuff (do not get caught up in material things) rather, put the emphasis on heavenly things
• Pack less, store less, simplify our lives
• Do not depend too much on material things (wealth, technology, and so on) because it all goes back into the box
• Love without condition
• Give without expectation
• Make yourself available to those around you (and in need)
• Do not withhold when it is in your power to give
• In all things, learn from Proverbs 3:5-7 (ESV) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Some of us need to be real and take this lesson on cleaning our parents house out and turn that to a spiritual cleaning in our lives:

• Is our phone (smart) causing us to sin - throw it out
• Is our computer taking us away from God's call to purity
• Are we in the word every day
• Do we pray often?
• Are we in community with our brothers and sisters?
• Are we being accountable to community and to Scripture?
• Do we have unrepentant sin in our lives?

If you don't believe what Lance and I write in this blog, then we challenge you to examine our words (and the words of others) and test them in Scripture.  Pray to the Lord and see if He reveals His way to you.

Draw near to God and He will Draw nearer to us - the Bible tells us so!

Blessings,

Dante

How to Build Your Kids’ Confidence in YOU, as a Parent

A few weeks ago, my wife and I were in our bedroom talking and our kids were in the room doing their own thing. The next thing we heard was, “Dad, can you come here!” from one of our sons. It didn’t sound like a panic, but there was a seriousness to the tone of his voice.

This Post Comes From:

I could tell he was very concerned about something. I’ve heard that tone before, and typically he doesn’t say what it is he needs, but I know to come and see what’s going on. When I got to the room, it wasn’t an emergency, and most of those instances it’s not. It wasn’t even really a big deal…to us. But to him it was pretty serious, and he needed help.

After resolving the problem, my wife and I began to talk about it, I began to ask myself some questions, and I discovered some things that I believe can help us build our kids’ confidence in us as parents.

Why call out to Dad?

One of the first questions I pondered was why do my kids call me, their dad, about 90% of the time in those situations? Very rarely do they call out to their mom in “serious” situations like that.

We even noticed that our youngest son walks past my wife’s side of the bed and comes to my side of the bed in the middle of the night when he has to use the bathroom. He doesn’t ask me to get up and take him, he just lets me know he’s going to the bathroom. I used to get upset about my sleep being interrupted, but then we figured it out.

We discovered it’s a little scary for him being up alone in the middle of the night, in total darkness. So, he wants me to know he’s awake, and he wants to know I’m awake, in case something happens and he needs me. He’s looking for my protection.

There is no doubt

When our oldest son calls out, what we notice is he has not one ounce of doubt that I’ll come. His tone says it. There is no panic, there is no need for explanation. “Dad, can you come here!” Once I hear that tone, I’m there!

I’d like to say this is because I’ve always responded to his call, but I’m sure there has been a time or two when I didn’t respond, at least not immediately. I think this is part of the reason, but not all of it.

 [shareable]Your track record of being there says to your kids, ‘I’m here for you!’ -Jackie Bledsoe[/shareable]

My track record, my history says to my kids, “I’m here for you.” But I also think, my kids just believe this is what dads do. But where does this belief come from? How do you develop a track record that says to your kids, “my dad will be here when I need him?” That’s how we give our kids confidence in us as parents.

5 ways to give our kids confidence in us as parents:

1. Say I love you. This seems obvious, but it can sometimes be forgotten. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking “my kids know I love them, so I don’t need to say it.” That’s wrong thinking. Saying “I love you” regularly, and not just when they do something worth loving, assures them you really do. It gives them confidence in themselves, and confidence in you.
2. Play with your kids. With the level of organized sports and activities today, it’s easy to be so busy that “play” becomes work. But nothing can replace just playing with them for fun. Playing in the yard, playing board games (or even video games), playing “rhyme time” (one of our favorites), or anything else you can think of. Your relationship grows deeper each time you play, and so does their confidence in you.
3. Work with your kids. At one point I was the primary teacher for our daughter. This is not typical as most moms handle the education, especially in homeschooling families. But for the first two years that our daughter was homeschooled I was her teacher. We formed a bond, grew our relationship and deepened our confidence in each other. Doing chores and yard work can provide the same benefit of giving your kids confidence in you.
4. Protect your kids. There are some obvious ways to protect your kids, like running off a dog, keeping them from running into a busy street, or holding them up while learning to ride their bike. But I believe one of the best forms of protection is praying for and with them. For my kids, although I’m pretty cool, tough, and bad in their eyes (their words, not mine…maybe), and I tell them “I know everything because I’m a dad,” they know I have limitations. But there is one Dad (God) who doesn’t have limitations. Knowing I speak to Him on their behalf, and we speak to Him together, gives them a level of peace, and confidence that they can’t get from anything else.
5. Discipline your kids. While it’s not always fun, disciplining your kids will yield great benefits and give them confidence in you. In fact, neglecting to discipline your kids can actually be detrimental to them. The Book of Proverbs says, young people are prone to foolishness and fads; the cure comes through tough-minded discipline.

Building confidence takes consistency

It’s good to do the things listed above once or twice, but it’s great to do them consistently. That consistency is what gives my son the confidence that when he needs me, when he calls out to me, that I will be there for him. He believes it because I’ve done it in so many other ways.

Imagine what will happen when we regularly say “I love you” to our kids, and our actions show it…

Imagine what will happen when you, I, and all the other dads who read this post consistently say “I love you” to our kids. Consistently play with them. Regularly work with them and protect them. And love them enough to be consistent in our discipline.

Imagine the confidence our kids will have in us today, while living in our household, and even after they’ve become adults and left our homes to start their own families. As we do this, we’ll have stronger relationships with our kids, and stronger families.

This is a repost from Jackie Bledsoe at http://jackiebledsoe.com/how-to-build-your-kids-confidence-in-you-as-a-parent/

Please check out his site and more of his great content!

Rule of Law

MAN'S LAW:

• The rule of law is the legal principle that law should govern a nation, as opposed to being governed by arbitrary decisions of individual government officials.
• Civil law, civilian law or Roman law is a legal system originating in Europe, intellectualized within the framework of late Roman law, and whose most prevalent feature is that its core principles are codified into a referable system which serves as the primary source of law.

Thomas Jefferson Quotes

• A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have. Thomas Jefferson
• When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe. Thomas Jefferson
• The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.€Thomas Jefferson
• It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.€Thomas Jefferson
• "I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." Thomas Jefferson
• "My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government." Thomas Jefferson
• "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." Thomas Jefferson
• "The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." Thomas Jefferson
• "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson
• "To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical." Thomas Jefferson
• "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered." The Federal Reserve Bank (The FED) is a private bank." Thomas Jefferson in 1802:

GOD'S LAW:

10 Commandment List

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
3. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
5. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

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The importance of understanding citizenship

Citizenship is the status of a person recognized under the custom or law as being a member of a state. A person may have multiple citizenship's and a person who does not have citizenship of any state is said to be stateless.  As Christians, those that believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and believe the Bible as the true word of God,  we are automatically given dual citizenship.  Thereby, we are citizens from the state and country which we come from and are citizens of the King of Heaven and Earth.  That being said, we have a responsibility as both Christians and Citizens to hold to truth, liberty and justice and to rely not on man's interpretation of God's law, rather, God's interpretation of man's law.

There is no country that is above God's precepts and maxims.  There is no king or ruler that can assert themselves above God's throne.   Therefore, we have to understand the very nature of God's law and what does that mean to us, mere citizens of earth.  Whenever you have laws or interpretations of laws that either negate or contradict God's laws then you have to ask yourself what has changed?  What is different?  Why is there an inconsistency in such law?  When the founding fathers of the United States left England to forge a new land, they didn't intend for a state religion to tell them how to worship or whom to serve, rather, they chose a path that would keep them free from government control on what they could or could not do.  Government, in its rarest form, is there to prevent tyranny not to be the tyrant.  The Federal Government in the Preamble of the Constitution is to establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote general Welfare, and secure blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our posterity.

Recently, the SCOTUS redefined the traditional definition of marriage.   Please understand that this was anything but what their inherent role was on that bench.  That is, to say, that 5 lawyers who are called to interpret the law (NOT TO WRITE THE LAW) did in fact legislate on the bench.  They usurped the Legislative Branch of the US Government and thereby legislated their minority opinion into law - this is my opinion and is open for discussion offline (and if you have more time on your hands read the entire decision and read Chief Justice Robert's dissent)

So what does that mean for 501(c)(3)'s of this land?  What does this mean for the Church in Europe and the United States of America?  Persecution.  Should we be surprised?  Of course not.  Should we be lying low and not challenging the very system?  Of course not.  As Citizens (Both of country and of God's land) we have a great responsibility to share the truth (in love).  Please do not forget the "in-love" part, which is paramount to the Christian walk and discipleship course.

Jesus tells us that we are not immune of his persecution.  If they (the world) persecuted the prophets and Jesus, then He told us that we should expect to be persecuted as well.  There is already a lawsuit from a man who claims phrases in the Bible have offended him and that he is suing the publishers of these versions of the Bible for $70 Million.  Next, we should expect to see the 501(c)(3) charitable organization challenged and sued for their stance on marriage and employment and biblical values and after this we can surely expect the church to be persecuted and tried for their stance on Jesus.  God doesn't need us to judge the world, instead he needs us to show the love of Jesus to the world.

This is where citizenship is so utterly important.  Because to the world, we are charged to go out unto the world and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in love.  We are to serve, to feed and to supply the world with God's riches and grace:  His Son, Jesus Christ.  Matthew 5:13"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;…

As Citizen's of the Church we are to remain pure.  We are to remain true and we are to hold the church body accountable to Scripture.  This is the ultimate difference as our responsibility as dual citizens.

Frankly, I have been embarrassed and ashamed of some social media posts that decry anger and ignorance toward citizens of this world.  These self proclaiming "Christians?" should be embarrassed by their behavior.  Be the salt to this blind world.  Be the light.  When the world looks at you - do they see you and your selfish desires or do they see Jesus?

• 1 Peter 2:9 ESV But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
• John 17:15-18 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
• Ephesians 2:10 ESV For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
• 1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
• Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
• Galatians 2:20 ESV I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
• Romans 13:14 ESV But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Do not be afraid of this world nor of its rulers:

The Whole Armor of God

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Blessings,D

Daddy Please....

LEGACY DADS

Here are to legacy dads who decide to strike a chord,

following the Bible as our just reward

When others fail to follow God's way,

Legacy dads humble themselves when we stray.

Although we may fail and lose our way,

We learn to trust in God and follow His way.

Walking with our brothers who share in our strife

we learn to be accountable in our daily life

Trusting and sharing and walking beside

We love our brothers and lean on Jesus as our guide

To be a better husband, father and friend

We trust in the Lord and we shall not bend

Loving our wives and children we will fight to the end

To hear our Lord say well done good and faithful friend

Independence Day

All throughout history we see history of men who stood for truth and justice and independence – their freedom from evil and tyranny:William Wallace, King Leonidas (the 300 Spartans), Winston Churchill, Mahatma Ghandi, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, , William Wilberforce, William Tyndale (translated the Bible into English), Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Apostles,

What about Jesus Christ – what did he do to sin, to death and for us?

• 1 Peter 2:16 - Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants[a] of God.
• Galatians 5:1 - For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
• 2 Corinthians 3:17 - Now the Lord[a] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
• Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith
• 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrvpZxMfKaU

If you are a bible believing, Jesus Christ professing Christian and you believe in you heart that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, lived on this earth and was crucified and rose again on the 3rd day and now sits at the right hand of God, then you have been set free.

Therefore, put to death the old self and put on the new self which we are in Jesus Christ and his Spirit resides in us.

Happy Independence Day.

Lance & Dante