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From The Pastor

“Freedom in Christ"

The Fourth of July is all about freedom: fireworks, flags, parades, food, and John Philip Sousa songs. It’s a wonderful blend of history and liberty, patriotism and pride. We remember and celebrate the birth of our democracy 242 years ago. The dream of what we could be as a country of free people became our new identity in this land of opportunity.

Jesus loved freedom too! Jesus’ freedom is a love for people, and ignoring those who tried to take it away and paint him into a corner. For Jesus, freedom meant not being enslaved to other people’s agendas. For example, Jesus heals many people in the gospels, but he never plays to the crowd in doing it. Many are amazed at his teaching, while many are offended at his teaching. It doesn’t matter to him. He’s free of the need to be affirmed. He’s free of the fear of not being highly esteemed. And stepping on my toes, his freedom shows me that I’m not as free as I would like to be. It is not a license for me to say whatever and do whatever, because our freedom also brings responsibilities. However, it should always be out of conviction, not convenience, and out of doing what is right, and not just doing well.

So, by all means, celebrate your freedom. Rejoice in the best that our country has to offer as the land of the free and the home of the brave. As people of God, do so by giving thanks for the presence of Jesus Christ in your life, for CLPC as a church, and then take an honest look at any area where you are not living free. Instead, strive to live before an audience of One, and don’t worry about the need for approval, a desire for quick fixes, and what people are thinking or saying about you. Only then, will you truly be free! 

Pastor John 

Quote of the Week

 "The choice before us is plain: Christ or chaos, conviction or compromise, discipline or disintegration. I am rather tired of hearing about our rights and privileges as American citizens. The time is come – it is now – when we ought to hear about the duties and responsibilities of our citizenship. America’s future depends upon her accepting and demonstrating God’s government.” Peter Marshall

Peter Marshall is a Presbyterian minister, and former chaplain to the Senate