Not Free

Tomorrow we will celebrate July the fourth which we call Independence Day or the birthday of America. We live in one; if not the greatest nations in the world; people are trying their best to get here. As I view over our great leaders of the past I have to stop and ask myself how many great leaders are there in the day you and I live. I have found some quotes of great men of the past and what they said. Where are the John Hancock’s of our day? The Samuel Adam’s, the Benjamin Franklin’s, the Patrick Henry’s? Read what they said and remember what they stood for and then ask yourself do you agree or were these just men with the gift of speech. Read of their life stories and what they sacrificed! Then there are the men who gave their lives on the battle fields so you and I could have freedom. Remember freedom is not cheap and it is not free!

"The jaws of power are always open to devour, and her arm is always stretched out, if possible, to destroy the freedom of thinking, speaking, and writing."
John Adams

"If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin."
Samuel Adams

"Every step we take towards making the State our Caretaker of our lives, by that much we move toward making the State our Master."
Dwight D. Eisenhower

"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth--that God Governs the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?"
Benjamin Franklin

"Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature."
Benjamin Franklin

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -- lest it come to dominate our lives and interests."
Patrick Henry

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here."
Patrick Henry

"When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends."
Japanese Proverb