A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....07 - 1 thru 4 -05..."America Has a Birthday"

DollyCali | July 1, 2005 | DollyCali; Nicollo;

[The Mayor]

July 4, 2005

The Rights Of God

Read:
Isaiah 5:1-7

[God] expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes. —Isaiah 5:2

Bible In One Year: Hosea 8-10

Isaiah's song picturing Israel as the Lord's vineyard teaches us that God has a right to expect love, worship, and obedience from those He blesses. Unfortunately, like people in Isaiah's day, many of us show little gratitude. And we deliberately break His moral laws. When we behave this way, God has a right to act in judgment.

History reveals that whenever a nation ignores God and rejects His Word, it reaps a bitter harvest.

On this Independence Day, we in the United States are reminded again of the liberties we enjoy. For these we should be deeply grateful. But sometimes we take them for granted, displaying little concern for those who are not so abundantly blessed. We are becoming a nation of individuals who selfishly insist on our own rights, making unfair demands on others and not thinking of their welfare.

Worst of all, in this clamor for personal freedom, we hear very little about the rights of God. We should recognize that He is the "Lord of the vineyard." He expects us to produce the fruits of love and obedience instead of the wild grapes of ingratitude and wickedness (Isaiah 5:2).

As we thank God for our rights, let's not forget the rights of God. —Herb Vander Lugt

So long as faith is kept alive,
Nation and people will survive;
God keep them, always, everywhere:
The hearth, the Book, the place of prayer. —Anon.

True freedom is not in having our own way, but in yielding to God's way.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Knowing God Through Isaiah

[DollyCali]

[DollyCali]

[DollyCali]

Happy Birthday USA Ping!



JOIN OUR FINEST PARADE !!!!


For your "unit" in the parade...share

a favorite graphic
favorite story
favorite recipe
personal dialog of how you spent or will spend today
(or just say "hi"!!! >

[Peach]

[DollyCali]

Love it Peach.. think I will "work it up" for future pledge. Thanks for stopping by. Doing anything special today? golf?
Our golf courses were loaded yesterday. O & I walk in forest behind church each sunday. It abuts a golf course & it seemed much busier than normal

[Peach]

Good morning, Dolly, and Happy Fourth of July.

Mr. Peach is going to a picnic this evening and I'll probably have to stay home; I have a little bug.

What are you doing today?

[Temple Owl]

Have a safe and happy holiday. I'm heading for our big Marple-Newtown (suburban Philly) Parade. It's the best in the area and always a lot of fun.
And please say a prayer for our kids out there in harm's way. I think it's especially important today.

[DollyCali]

Parade (watching & pix taking) early & might go to Blossom center this PM.. the Blossom Festival Band (sub group of) Cleveland symphony will have their annual weekend patriot concert. It is under shell or outdoors w/blankets & lawn chairs. i usually go every year one day of the weekend. I know this sounds silly but my one hold back is leaving oliver home alone. He is so terrified of the fireworks

Blossom

sorry you aren't feeling well.. (too much Lemonaide pie?)..get well!

[Aquamarine]

Hi Dolly. Found that fireworks graphic which had a black background so had to build a Post to give it something to sit on, turned into a bigger project than I intended (took hours).
Had a cookout with family and friends at a local State Park (Vogle) yesterday and will be staying at home today.

Thanks Mayor for the Inspirational today, gave me a new tagline. :)

[Aquamarine]

Whoops, think I spelled Vogel wrong.

[DollyCali]

that is a lovely state park from the website. I DO know what you mean about a "little post" evolving into a LOT of time.

I left my parade after about 45 minutes.. JUST too hot & there was no special person etc I wanted to see & for all my good intentions for picture taking, I neglected to bring the memory disc!!!! duh. It was still in the card reader. Oliver was pretty hot too & there were firecrackers going off all over the place (the noisy ones) and neither of us particularly like that.

Going to tackle some projects here on the home front & computer before I go (if I go) to the concert tonight. I have a ticket available..

I think the noisy ones are a "guy thing" myself.. others can chime in..

[daisyscarlett]

What a great rendition of Stars and Stripes Forever!!!You always pick such great music-bet you auditioned many versions, lol...(brought back pleasant memories of when we did a patriotic music thread ions ago)

[Aquamarine]

You always pick such great music-bet you auditioned many versions, lol

Thanks Daisyscarlett, you know me well. lol
Had a better version of Stars and Stripes Forever in the past, the music selections have gotten thinner with time.

Good to see you around these parts Dear FRiend. Have a wonderful Fourth!

[Aquamarine]

I love the loud noise that fireworks make almost more than the visual part.

Had a fireworks display turn over while watching after a Braves Game in Atlanta on the 4th years ago. Was laying on the sidewalk watching when people started running by as what we thought was the grand finale was going off. It was amazing the bright light and sound that were going off right in front of us. Ignorance really is bliss. lol

[Billie]

Good morning, Miss Dolly! Great-looking *ping* posts you've been making for America's Birthday each day. :)

Good morning to the Finest on this most important birthday!

[JustAmy]

Happy Monday, DaisyScarlett!

Shaggy and I wish you a Happy Independence Day!

[JustAmy]

Happy Independence Day!

I'll try to stop in later with another table. :)
Have a wonderful day!

[JustAmy]

Good Morning, Finest Friends.

Beautiful Birthday Thread. Thank you!!

Have a Happy Independence Day, y'all.

[DollyCali]

Youngstown Area Concert Band


Hudson on the Green 4th concert





I attended this 2 hour concert Sunday evening. > Hudson, Ohio has fireworks one day, concert next & parade next.