On July 5, 1926, in a speech commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, President Calvin Coolidge reminded Americans that “in its main features the Declaration of Independence is a great spiritual document,” “our forefathers came to certain conclusions and decided upon certain courses of action which have been a great blessing to the world,” and that “they (forefathers) were a people who came under the influence of a great spiritual development and acquired a great moral power.” He went on to say, “We live in an age of science and of abounding accumulation of material things. These did not create our Declaration. Our Declaration created them. The things of the spirit come first. Unless we cling to that, all our material prosperity, overwhelming though it may appear, will turn to a barren scepter in our grasp. If we are to maintain the great heritage which has been bequeathed to us, we must be like-minded as the fathers who created it. We must not sink into a pagan materialism. We must cultivate the reverence which they had for the things that are holy. We must follow the spiritual and moral leadership which they showed.”
In addition to reading the Bible, I read daily from The American Patriot’s Almanac by William Bennett and John Cribb, from which I shared the above’s entry for July 5, titled “The Things of the Spirit Come First.”
Every Fourth of July we celebrate the blessings of the United States of America. We are grateful for our forefathers’ wisdom and for their sacrifices. (For just one example, read about William Floyd, whose home was used as a British barracks, fled with his family, lived as refugees, returned after the war and found his fields stripped and his house damaged.)
Stories between the Lines, Inspired by New Testament Events is a stepping stone for readers who are young children, teenagers, young adults, and those who are not familiar with the Bible, to learn of Jesus’s great love and blessings. This knowledge is essential for future generations to preserve the freedoms endowed to us by our Creator. I hope you will purchase a copy at this website to have on hand and to share. America needs Jesus, today more than ever.