Heroes of 1776

 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. !II Chronicles 7:14

This year we celebrate 250 years of our nation, but how much do we know?

I recently watched an interview with Trey Gowdy and Judge Neil Gorsuch. Judge Gorsuch has researched the men and women who were instrumental in writing our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. He wrote Heroes of 1776 for children so they might know, be encouraged, and have the courage to be citizens our founders would be proud of.

Judge Gorsuch declares that often people confuse the Declaration of Independence with the Constitution. They are two separate entities, each with a special purpose. The Declaration of Independence focuses on the aspirations of the declaration: inalienable rights, created equal, and the right to rule ourselves. The writers declared these were given by God, and among those rights were life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The Constitution is the separation of powers between the state and the Federal Government.

As the men met in Philadelphia to discuss the Declaration, they discussed not only the contents but also who should write the document. John Adams went to Thomas Jefferson to ask him to write. Jefferson locked himself away in a rented room for two weeks, writing the challenge to our forefathers and to us to make a better life for ourselves and our families. That's the true pursuit of happiness. Though the document was agreed upon in July, the signing did not take place until August 2, 1776.

After the writing, the document needed to be published and distributed to all the colonies to gain the endorsement of the populace. A trusted publisher who always signed publications, M.K. Goddard, was asked to print the Declaration of Independence. At the bottom, she wrote, Mary Katherine Goddard. The publisher was a woman! She, along with the signers, was willing to risk her life. The signers knew this document could cost them, and their families their livelihoods, their fortunes, and their very lives.

Judge Gorsuch poses challenges and questions to his readers as we celebrate and reflect on our nation's 250th birthday. How will we protect and preserve what has been bequeathed to us? Only 40% of the colonists wanted independence. Another 20-30% were loyalists. The rest stood on the sideline and watched to see who would win. Judge Gorsuch's other question is, are we willing to pay the price for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Just what would that cost be? To listen to the full interview, visit: https://radio.foxnews.com/podcast/trey-gowdy/

I've visited many of the Revolutionary battlefields in my area, but there are many I have yet to view. Perhaps this summer, my vacation plans will reflect my patriotism in visiting and learning more about the country I love. 

Father God, please grant us the understanding of our need of personal repentance as well as national repentance. Forgive us Lord, for we have sinned greatly. Please restore us to Yourself and heal our land. In Jesus' name. Amen

Weathering Trials

 

 

One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.

Psalms 145:4 (NKJV)

Author Nancy I. Sanders has discovered a very old tree in Massachusetts. It was planted in 1632 by John Endecott. The most surprising part is that the tree is still there almost 400 years later. Mrs. Sanders has written a children's picture book about the pear tree, The Very Oldest Pear Tree. The tree, brought from England in 1630 at the request of John Endecott, was planted on his farm; Orchard Farm near what is now Danvers, Massachusetts. Mrs. Sanders tells the story of how the little tree had to be nurtured for a couple of years because of the long voyage and the tenderness of the tree. Other trees were also shipped for his orchard. He planted them together but this one little pear tree went in front of where he would build his house. When fires raged through his orchard, the little pear tree was safe. He told others that the tree would outlive him but he had no idea how long it would live. It produced fine little pears for cooking and making jam but they were a little tart it seems for eating.

Long after John Endecott died, John Adams finished his term as president and moved back to his farm. It was only a few miles from the Endecott farm where the tree was still growing. A friend brought Adams a basket of pears with the note to "eat with our forefathers." Wow, can you imagine eating from a tree that is well over a hundred years old? Can you imagine how those living back then would have enjoyed the pears? Can you imagine the conversation about the pie or the jam around the family table?

The Endecott pear tree, as it became known, also survived storms. It survived the building of factories and railroads. It even survived vandals who stripped it of its limbs, leaving only the trunk. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem about it. Later, in honor of Arbor Day, Lucy Larcom also wrote about this little pear tree. Today a fence with a plaque surrounds the tree. Little branches have been taken to a Germplasm Repository where they continue to clone this magnificent little tree. 

My favorite quote from the book is "The tree was small and sturdy. Though young, its roots reached deep." I think there's a truth there for all of us. No matter how small or how young; when we plant our roots deep in God's word and investigate the roots of our Christian forefathers, whether our family or our nation, we become strong. We can survive the fires and the storms of this life. We can be the trees and fruit from which our descendants can gain strength. Mrs. Sanders’ book is dedicated to her grandson. She leaves him with this verse: "Pass the story down from generation to generation." Joel 1:3 — NIS. 

Heavenly Father, help us to be rooted in your word and demonstrate to the generations to come of the great strength you provide to those who are called by your name. In Jesus's name. Amen

Hey Kids:

One of our presidents received a note with a basket of pears from the Endicott Tree to "eat with our forefathers". It's likely you don't have a tree or anything passed down for hundreds of years except the faith of your forefathers. 

Father's Day is just a few weeks off. Whether we know our birth fathers or not, we do have a legacy of faith from our spiritual fathers. I thought you might enjoy hearing a song that is not sung very often except on Father's Day. It tells of all the trials our forefathers went through to bring us the faith in Jesus that we can still claim today. The song is called Faith of our Fathers. 

The history of some of our forefathers of faith can be found in  The Trail of Blood, Martyr's Mirror and Fox's Book of Martyrs.