Happy birthday, America! This week our country is celebrating 229 years as an independent nation. Red, white, and blue bunting and flag-waving along parade routes down Main Street will be in force. Picnics on the lawn, watermelon eating contests and fireworks at dusk are all part of the traditions that surround each 4th of July.

These are all fine traditions, but while we are spending our time reveling joyously let us not forget the sacrifices that so many have made in the past in order for us to live in a society based upon the principles that freedom and liberty are derived from our Divine Creator. Neither should we fail to remember those currently serving across the globe that we can maintain our standards of freedom and liberty.

For the Christian, we know that true liberty is found only in Christ: "Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17) We are blessed for the work we do in His service in His kingdom: "But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing." (James 1:25)

Before coming to Christ, we are all in bondage to sin: "For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection; knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; for he that hath died is justified from sin." (Romans 6:5-7) When we come out of bondage by turning to Jesus, we become the adopted sons of God and joint-heirs with Christ: "For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, `Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified with Him." (Romans 8:15-17)

So while you are waving your stars and stripes, do not forget how your liberty in Christ was purchased through His scars and stripes: "Then saith He to Thomas, `Reach hither thy finger, and see My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing.' …His own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (John 20:27; 1 Peter 2:24-25)

Youth Group Meeting
The Youth Group is scheduled to meet after the PM services this evening. See Matt Faneuf for further details.

Taking The Gospel To Ghana
David Stearsman is leaving for Ghana with Ted Wheeler and company this coming Thursday, July 7th. Funds are still needed for this journey. See David or one of the elders if you would like to contribute. A complete itinerary is posted at: www.ghanamissions.com.

Baby Shower
All of our ladies are invited to attend a baby shower for Heidi West - this coming Friday, July 8th, at 6:30 p.m. in the annex.

Bible Lab Teachers
There will be a Bible Lab Teachers Meeting on July 10th, immediately following the AM services. This meeting will be for all current Bible Lab teachers and assistants, as well as any who are interested in helping. We need help in the Bible Lab, so please plan on attending if you are willing to help out.

Email List
If you have not already done so, please make sure that your Email Address is included and correct – on the list posted on the bulletin board in the foyer. We will be taking the list down this week.

On The Road
Many of our number are traveling and on the road at this time. Keep them in your prayers that they may have enjoyable journeys and return to us safely.

The book of Proverbs says, "Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man thou shalt not go; lest thou learn his ways and get a snare to thy soul". (Proverb 22:24-25) Thus we should be extra careful how we choose our friends, lest we become like those with whom we associate.