Freedom Dream

Look up look up into the sky,
Watch the flag dance watch it fly.
Red and white, blue forever,
Standing through cold wind and weather.

A sign long looked for throughout the years,
A symbol of hope that dampens all fears.
High it flies with colors bold,
Its history so great it must be told.

This flag of ours from years ago,
Stands for so much you hardly know.
It stands in the field when all is done,
It continues to wave when the battle is won.

Crimson red a memory of war,
A tribute to the soldiers that it stands for.
On the fields they fought and they bled,
So all others could remain safe instead.

White triumphant glory to come,
Always standing when all is done.
Crystal bright the hope we hold,
Always remember the brave and the bold.

Deep like the sea and twice as still,
The blue always remains upon the hill.
Carried by soldiers and freedom fighters alike,
Who dreamed of freedom and were willing to strike.

A banner of freedom hope and home,
Americans will never far from it roam.
Forever uniting this country into one,
We stand together under the sun.

Our flag in hand and love in our heart,
We'll stand together never apart.
On this ground we'll take a stand,
To protect each other and our land.

Freedom is priceless so very dear,
All who come will find it here.
Forever the land of the free and the brave,
Together we're one let freedom wave.



Photo Credit: Fine Art America 

9/11 Tribute

Freedom does not come cheaply; it must be fought for and believed in, and everyone must be willing to sacrifice to maintain it. America was a land of freedom - founded upon it and preserved through dedication and hard work. All people could feel a sense of pride when standing beneath the flag of this great county, the symbol of our greatness and the thing that bound all the people together.

On September 11, 2001, America was attacked. Evil people from a foreign country invaded this land and killed over 3,000 American citizens. No one expected it to happen and no one was prepared. When the Twin Towers fell, it seemed like America would crumble just like the buildings, the greatness of the country buried under all the rubble. It seemed like America was crushed; hope dwindled and went out.

But hope was reignited; our flag emerged out of all the carnage. Covered in dust and flying in tragedy, The Stars and Stripes continued on. It stirred the hears of everyone who had lost hope. It gave people a beacon to run to. It united a terrorized nation. The American flag rising out of the 9/11 rubble not only encouraged people, but it sent a message. America will not be crushed. We are resilient, a nation of 285 million people united as one. We emerged out of war in 1776, then rebuilt ourselves after the Civil War, and - no matter what comes at us - we will remain united and strong.

God bless America and keep it strong; give us hope in dark times.

In honor of the thousands of people who died on 9/11, never let their memory fade. Keep freedom alive; never let The Stars and Stripes fall.

*****
Photo Credit: Asbury Park Press
Source: President Bush's Speech, Ground Zero

The Fourth of July - Prayer Blog

Happy Birthday to the United States of America! It's July 4th, the day 238 years ago that our country declared independence from its European overlord. We fought for our freedom and sacrificed many lives in pursuit of it. Every one of the founding fathers had the same goal of creating a God-honoring nation that could house a free people. America became a nation for patriots who would do anything to be free. And, as we grew, we opened our doors to all those who wanted the same freedom; we called everyone to our borders: "Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breath free; the wretched, refuse of your teeming shore, send these, the homeless, tempest tossed to me; I lift my lamp beside the golden door." Never in the history of the world has there been a nation like this, a place of freedom, peace, and unity, all its people from every corner of the world united under one flag, a symbol of freedom that can never dim. This great nation of 50 states joined together was founded on the belief that God is real and is guiding this nation's steps. Without God, America is nothing. God willing, we will continue to trust in him and survive to offer our hopes, our dreams, and our lives to those who seek freedom. On this Fourth of July, link hands with all patriots, look up to the flag of our country, and thank God for his freedom for all.

Prayer:
Dear God, hold us as a nation in your hand this Fourth of July. Remind us what freedom is worth and make us truly grateful that we have it in such abundance here in America. Let us not fall away from you and your ways like so many great nations before us; instead, let us remember that you are the one who created this land of liberty and you are the one who sustains it always. Bless everyone who has sacrificed for this country and comfort any families who have lost soldiers or patriots. Dear Lord, please bless this nation with an abundance of faith in you and give all Americans a heart to see our freedom shared with all.

Happy Fourth of July to all my readers!

And I'm Proud to be an American Song

Photo Credit: RMA Spears

Prayer Blog - American Tragedy

Brothers and sisters, America has been hit hard by hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Many people are without their homes and jobs; some may have even lost their loved ones in the terrible storms that tore apart our coastlines. What a time for these hurricanes to hit, only days before the anniversary of one of the darkest times in American history - the day that terrorists hijacked four planes and flew two of them into the World Trade Center, killing thousands.

Yes, we must be sad for the lives lost during 9/11and those lost during the hurricanes, but let me say this. Both these events are tragic and sad but they also have one other thing in common: Americans. In times of hurt and tragedy, Americans have come together as one nation, no matter their skin color or religion or background. They've come together because people needed their help, people who are just like them. Americans. We've come together as a country before and we are doing it once again, because we're Americans.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, we pray for those affected by the recent hurricanes in Texas and Florida. We pray for the people who have lost their homes and jobs, that they would stay safe and lean on you as rescue teams begin to put things back in order. We pray for the rescue teams, that they would be able to help those in need quickly and effectively and that they themselves would stay safe. And finally, Lord, we pray for our country, that we would come together as one nation in the wake of tragedy. That we would lean on you for protection and guidance. You make everything work for good and your cause; perhaps these hurricanes will pull us together as a country just like 9/11 pulled us together 16 years ago. Please bring us back to the country we're meant to be. Amen.

The American Flag

Red, White, and Blue: the colors of the American flag.

For many many years, this banner has flown above the USA. In times of trouble, it never came down and in times of peace it flies ever still. When the United States was first formed, this flag was waved by patriots who fought for a freedom they believed in; they stood under The Stars and Stripes, facing the enemy until they won our freedom. When the country was torn in two, our flag remained a symbol of our glory that, though destroyed, would rise again. During World War 1 and 2, our flag flew alongside those of many other countries who would not let evil replace freedom. 

Now The Stars and Stripes flies over a nation at peace, a people at rest. Silent and majestic, it watches over all Americans, stirring gently in the breeze. This is not just a flag; it represents what beats in the heart of every American: freedom, loyalty, honor, and love. The American flag is very special; it will never die, it will always be there. Never forget how important it is. Look up and see it. It is The Stars and Stripes. It is America.

What does the flag mean to you?

Our Honored

The Fourth of July! A time for hot dogs, snow cones, and fireworks. A time when we remember what America stands for: liberty, freedom, and equality.

All this can be summed up under our beautiful flag, our red, white and blue. But oftentimes we forget the people who keep our country safe and those who make it possible to fly our flag. The Army, the Marines, and Navy, and the Air Force - our armed forces. These people have sacrificed so much to give us freedom; they are willing to put their futures, their families, and even their lives on the line to let you go out about your lives in peace.

They protect us and how do we thank them? Detest with no end, scorn of the most petty kind. By what right do we scorn them? They allow you to live a life and live without fear, and yet we treat them less then human! Why?!

They often suffer severe traumatic stress from seeing death and destruction almost daily; it festers and infects their souls, but still they press on for freedom and the Americans they're protecting. That soul sickness stays with them for their whole lives; they aways remember the sight of a friend being shot down. It's forever burned into their memories and yet they go on. By facing these ordeals, they become strong; they are no longer swayed by the horrific battles they faced. But those battles are nothing compared to what awaits them back home.

Endless waiting at the VA hospital and even then they might still be ignored. Rejection from family and the "patriotic" Americans they kept safe. Yet they bear even this. Why? Because they are strong. Not just Army strong; they have a different kind of strong. They may look hard core, but know under all the hard core Army grit they still have beating hearts, hearts that feel pain, rejection, and hate.

Why do we make them go through this? They are the true Americans. They are the brave who who keep America the land of the free. The special kind of strength that they have is their true American sprit, the sprit that keeps them strong.

The Fourth of July is their day. Make sure to give them the honor they deserve, a hundred a hundred times over. Our soldiers are the free, the brave, and our honored; they are our protection, which has cost them a lot. Too much. Be proud of them.

Photo Credit: Dedicated to Heroes (http://dedicatedtoheroes.blogspot.com/2011/12/dedicated-to-heroes-announces-real.html)

American Faith

America is mostly Christian; that's a well known fact. But are we really the Christians we should be?

Many people say they're Christians without really understanding the true meaning. Why? Because most every American grew up on Bible stories like they did on cereal and cartoons. Few people truly take the time to dive deep into the Bible and discover the full, wonderful, unfathomable mystery of God's love. Hence, the reason American Christians are lukewarm Christians.

The Bible clearly states that God doesn't like lukewarm believers; he will spit them out of his mouth. So how did we become lukewarm? The answer is simple: When something you love is threatened, you will fight all the harder to protect it. But American Christians are not being threatened for their faith. The truth is we are just lazy because we have nothing to protect our faith from.

At this very moment Christians in the Middle East, China, and all non-Christian countries are being threatened with bodily harm for their faith, yet they remain resilient. The threatening has made their determination ever stronger, and with suffering will their strength will be renewed.

Do you feel like a lukewarm Christian? Do you realize you don't appreciate Jesus enough? If so, how do you fix this problem? Pray, read the Bible, and dig deep to discover who God really is. Let us live with a passion for Christ as the martyrs of the Middle East, as the persecuted of China. True, we American Christians are not persecuted, but we must live with the same passion. We are all part of God's mystery; let us live with a burning faith for him who loves us.

Pray for the Christians in the Middle East and China. The persecution is terrible; they undergo beatings, torture, and even death, all in the name of Jesus. Know that they are at peace in the midst of their suffering. They are our brothers and sisters; will we pray?

I Remember (A 911 Story - Part 3)

This is Part 3 of an on-going story. Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

*****

No one noticed anything except the flame and debris falling to the ground. Harper stood in the middle of the panicked masses - unmoving, unfeeling, unaware of anything except the chaos.

Then suddenly a deafening roar shook the ground beneath her. Tiny specks of flame fell all around her and Harper looked up.

In the middle of the building, a huge cloud of smoke and soot burst into glorious being and it was descending fast; the building was crumbling and it was coming down. Harper wanted to run, but her feet had grown roots and had pinned themselves to the ground.

"Ma'am, come with me. We have to go now. Ma'am?" a fireman said to her.

But she could not move. She continued to gaze up at the ever growing grotesque cloud of dust and flame. The fireman didn't wait for her to answer but instead grabbed her arm and dragged her away from the falling debris.

She was suddenly jarred out of her terror-induced trance and her feet began to move by themselves. She glanced behind her and immediately wished she hadn't. A huge cloud of gray darkness seemed to be chasing her down the street; it moved faster then her feet could, and it enveloped her and the fireman in a matter of seconds. Darkness closed around them in a dark shadow.

The fireman's hand slipped from her arm and, though she couldn't see him, Harper knew he had left her. She wrapped her arms around herself and crunched into a protective ball. The air was deathly silent and at the same time it was completely loud. The smoke was everywhere and Harper could not see three feet in front of her. The dust clung to her lungs, coating her throat and filling her nose.

Her surroundings were getting fuzzy. Through the dust and the fog in her mind, Harper thought she saw the fireman walking towards her. In an instant, he was by her side saying something, but all she heard was, "Hang on, Ma'ma, hang on. You'll..."

And then all went black.

She became partially conscious under the bright lights of a hospital room with nurses buzzing all around her. Her ears hummed and her vision blurred and she faded back to the blackness.

She did not know how many times she dozed in and out of darkness, but when she became fully conscious, her surroundings were very different then when she had passed out. She was propped up in a hospital bed with clean blankets and pillow cases; the room itself was clean and white, and there were flowers everywhere. She sat up a little dazed with her mind buzzing.

How long had she been asleep? What had happened after she went out, and what had happened to the woman she had helped? Was she okay?

The door opened suddenly and a trim nurse walked in. "Oh good; you're awake. I'll tell the doctors immediately." And she turned to go.

"Wait a minute. How long was I asleep?"

The nurse turned back to Harper. "You've been in a mild coma for almost a week; the doctors said it was all the smoke you inhaled."

Harper didn't reply but just nodded. A week. A whole week she had been out. She began to wonder if it had all been worth it.
                                                                                  -
Five days later Harper was well on her way to recovery and was preparing to leave the hospital. The 911 attacks had made national and worldwide headlines. The terrorist group called Al Qaeda had attacked not only theTwin Towers, but also the Pentagon and was suspected of attempting an attack on Washington D.C. In total, the attacks killed 2,996 people.

Harper sat down on the edge of the bed. She could not stand for long without feeling dizzy. And the number of dead swayed her to nausea.

Though it was quiet, Harper heard the door open. She turned around. Sitting in a wheelchair with a cast on one leg was the young woman she had saved. The woman wore a huge grin on her face.

"The doctors told me you almost died!" Her smile had faded but her eyes were still filled with joy.

"I just wanted to thank you even though you deserve so much more. I would have died if you hadn't found me."

Harper was speechless. Without words, she walked over to the woman. Bending down, she hugged her with all the strength she had.

"You are very welcome."
                       
                                                                                The End...

I Remember (A 911 Story - Part 2)

This is Part 2 of an on-going story. Read Part 1 here.

*****

Another plane. This was more then an accident; it was a deliberate plan. But by whom and why Questions spun in Harper's head but there was no logical answer or reason.

But what was that? A voice of someone calling out!

"Help me! Somebody, help!"

A voice called out from the other side of the floor. Someone was in trouble and that knowledge made Harper sprint over ceiling debris that had fallen with impact to were the voice came from.

A huge piece of the wall had fallen and under it Harper saw a young woman who was pinned. She could not have been more than twenty; her face was smeared with dust and a small trickle of blood ran in a tiny stream next to her eye.

Harper rushed to her side. "Don't worry I'm going to get you out from under there. Can you lift yourself up at all?"

The woman nodded even though pain creased her face. Working together, Harper lifting and the young woman pushing as much as she could, they slowly lifted the pieces of wall. Finally, the woman was able to crawl out using her arms. Harper could see that the woman's legs were badly bruised and one was very bloody.

Bending over, Harper helped her up and, while supporting her weight, the two started towards the door. The flames had begun to rise but most of they were still engulfing the computer room. The stairs seemed to stretch on forever but slowly and surely the two women made their way down. The young woman was groaning in pain and her leg was leaving a path of blood.

Without saying anything out loud, Harper let out a prayer. "Dear God, please protect us. If you don't help us, this woman is going to die and I can't help her."

It seemed forever before the front doors came into view, and at the same time it was just nanoseconds of Harper's attention. The sunlight scorched Harper's eyes and she squinted, but at the same time she couldn't breathe. Dust hung in the air like a curtain; it hung in a grey oppression over New York.

Medics rushed over to help Harper with the young woman; they lifted her carefully, favoring her bloody leg, but the woman still screamed in pain. Harper cringed outwardly but no one noticed.

*****
To Be Continued...

I Remember (A 911 Story)

The building shook with the force of a freight train and fire burst out of the ugly gash in its side on the north World Trade Center tower.

Harper braced herself inside the stairwell and clutched her chest to make her heart continue beating. Dashing down the flights of steps to the computer room, she saw that the door was hanging smashed open and flame engulfed the room as employees ran for doors and stairs. The smashed remains of a Boeing 767 aircraft had dug a deep groove in the office and a few brave  employees were trying to  lift debris off a young man. He was screaming in pain as the heavy debris dug into his leg.

Without thinking, Harper dove at the young man and, as she was able, pulled him from the plane wreckage. Smoke poured into every corner and every bit of air was sucked from Harper's lungs. The flames ate away at the walls and Harper's mind burned with it; it was obvious that no one could stay in this building but how to leave safely?

Using what little air she could find, Harper shouted, "Move! The stairs are the only way down!"

People heard her and began moving in a surge to get to the stairwell, and she moved along with them. When she entered stairs, she did not begin the long walk down but instead moved up the stairs to the flights above, going quickly in an attempt to save more people. The flames leapt at her feet and she removed her high heels to go faster. As she reached the next door, she was hit by a rush of panicked people, screaming, pushing, and terrified.

"Is everyone out of that floor?" Harper asked a man.

As he dashed past her, he gave a barely noticeable nod and continued to run. Harper continued up the stairs to the top floors. She realized every step that took her higher was one more further from the ground and one more that would soon be engulfed in flame. But she couldn't think about that now; she had reached the top floor, and without hesitation she pushed open the stairwell door and entered.

The entire room had smoke leaking up from the lower floors, making the room dark and unnavigable. Stumbling to the closest window, Harper leaned against the glass, expelled smoke from her lungs and tried to steady her spinning head. Everything was a blur; nothing was clear, nothing but one thing. A second plane just like the first was plowing straight for the second World Trade Center tower. As it flew, time seemed to  stand still and all of New York watched as the plane plowed into the wall of the tower. It smashed into a million sparkles of flame and the whole building seemed to quaver with the impact.

To Be Continued...

The Change - Part 2

This is Part 2 of the story. Read Part 1 here.

*****

Mr. Louis worked in a big office building downtown; he always went to work in clean, pressed suits and spiffy, shiny shoes. Tommy always said he wanted to be just like daddy when he grew up, which made David Louis very proud!

As David drove up the driveway, he was surprised  to see that none of the house lights were on. He was even more surprised when he put his key up to the the lock and it swung open freely. A small panic gripped David's heart; this wasn't like Helen, there had to be a reason for this odd behavior. Something was wrong!

Rushing into the dark house, stubbing his toe on the radiator, banging his hip on the kitchen island, and falling flat on his knees, David was in a tizzy.

"Dear, we have lights, you know," Helen's voice spoke from the far corner of the room.

Standing up and fumbling for the light switch, David asked a very simple question. "Why are the lights off and why are you sitting here?"

It was such a simple question, but after hearing it, Helen's face pinched up and she burst into tears. Taken by surprise, David rushed over and encircled his wife in his strong arms.

"What's wrong? Tell me!"

Through tears and sniffles, the whole story came out. Through it all, David's expression went from worried to shocked to horrified. After the conclusion of the story, husband and wife sat together in silence for a few minutes. Then, taking his wife in his arms again, David spoke to her tenderly.

"Darling, this is a terrible problem and we must fix it, but you must know I don't blame you."

Helen breathed a sigh of relief and allowed herself to sink into her husband's chest. The two shared a long moment to gather their strength. They would need it for the battle ahead.

The Change - Part 1

This post is only one part of a serial story. The subject of this serial is a touchy one in America in this day and age. 
It may offend some people but that but that would be there choice, not my intention.

"God was angry with the earth because they didn't know him anymore.He was sorry he had created man, every single one of them, everyone aside from Noah. So God told Noah to build a huge boat called an,"

"Ark, an ark!" Tommy cut in. This was his favorite Bible story and Mrs. Louis loved telling it to him.

"Yes, that's right. So after the ark was built, God told Noah to put two of every kind of animal and bird in the ark. So Noah loaded them two by two."

"Then Noah went into the ark. It rained for a long time, maybe even a whole week," Tommy interrupted again, this time jumping up and waving his arms.

"It rained for forty days and nights," Helen Louis continued. "After it stopped raining, Noah sent a dove out of the ark. The first time it came back with nothing, but the second time it bought back a fresh olive twig, so Noah knew that land was out there. The rain dried up and Noah left the ark."

Helen smiled. The next part of the story was Tommy's favorite so she waited for him to tell it.

"And in the sky," Tommy said, standing up dramatically on his chair, "there was a rainbow, and the colors were red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and - and violet!"

"And do you know what the rainbow symbolizes?" his mother asked.

Tommy smiled from ear to ear, and he bellowed out his answer: "Gays!"

Helen sat back in her chair. She had not expected this answer. She looked at her son; his face was so innocent. Where had he heard about gays? And their rainbow?

*****

Photo Credit: Photoflurry

Our Flag

Our flag is not just a pattern on a bolt of fabric: many people forget this one simple fact. They consider it  just the American flag. Well, it's much more that that. Our flag stands for a country that was built out of the wilderness. Our flag stands for the thousands of people who gave their lives in many wars to keep our nation free. Our flag is a symbol of the millions of hearts singing out for freedom - freedom for all. Our flag represents a nation of people determined to make a difference The American flag is not just a piece of cloth. It's a wonderful symbol of American free thinking.


This essay is in honor of Flag Day, and the many soldiers who died defending this country and its flag. So we will never forget what that flag means.


Photo Credit: Fred Seibert

America Equality

America used to be about equality, loving your fellow man, and taking care of one another. But slowly we slipped.Starting with the Indians, the settlers captured them and enslaved them. Years went by and slowly slaves were imported from Africa. As Martin Luther King Jr. began his campaign for equality, things got a little better. When you look around today, when you see the different cultures in the streets, do you feel a twinge of racism? We must always remember those words that stood for human equality; "I have a dream."


Photo Credit: Bo Insogna, The Lightning

When the Towers Fell

The World Trade Center stood tall on September 11, 2001. The day was a nice one, peaceful and quiet. The silence was broken by a plane; the plane flew through the air towards the towers. It smashed into the North Tower and 9/11 had begun. Smoke plumed out of the top of the tower. A few minutes later, a second plane crashed into the South Tower, People ran through the streets, running for their lives. Moments later, the North Tower crashed down, spewing ash and debris all over the people in the street. In Washington, a plane crashed into the Pentagon. And a plane crashed into a field just miles from Washington. The South Tower tumbled down in a plume of smoke. In all of these crises, hundreds of people lost their lives. When the towers fell, America's resolve changed. We need to make them proud; the people who died need to know we love them enough to fight for them.



Photo Credit: WseleyGrim