One year, Johnny's family was having the "extended family" 4th of July cookout at their home. One of the special treats that year was the lighting of the fireworks (Roman candles, bottle rockets, missile batteries, etc.) they had bought out of state (they're illegal in their state, of course!)
Just before they were to arrive, a cousin calls, saying their neighbor's plans had just fallen through, and could they bring them along to the picnic - they even had extra food to bring. "Sure, the more the merrier!"
Upon arrival and meeting of their cousin's neighbor, it is discovered that he's a police officer. The father turns as innocently as he can to Johnny, and whispers to him to grab the paper bag of fireworks sitting in the kitchen and hide them somewhere quickly. Johnny disappears, and the father changes the topic to food for the day. This family had brought some chicken to grill, so the father tells them the gas grill is all set to use out back - just turn on the gas and push the ignition button with the lid still closed.
They head out to the back as Johnny comes back in through the front door. The father hurries to him and says "Whew, that was close! That man's a police officer, and he almost saw the fireworks. Did you hide them real well?"
"Oh, yeah, nobody will ever think to look in the grill!"
--Selected from Mikey's Funnies.
It was July 3, 1776. Feelings were at fever pitch in the
American Colonies, in Philadelphia in particular. Would
Congress actually do the unthinkable and pull the plug
from England? Only a few years earlier, there were
precious few extremists who were ready to go the whole
length of separation. There were many who still swore
loyalty to England.
However, King George III had made any hopes of status
quo unthinkable. The King had turned down the American
petition for the redress of grievances. He had publicly
branded the colonists as rebels. And with the full support
of Parliament, he had even begun to hire Hessian tr
to assist him with any impending war with them.
Trade was suffering acutely. Then, Thomas Paine wrote
"Common Sense," which powerfully called for American
independence. He saw something perpetually absurd in
supposing that a mere island could govern a continent. In
April of that year, the North Carolina delegates made it
clear that they were opting for full independence. The next
month Virginia agreed.
Every state except New York was pushing for the break.
New York finally agreed. Now, as nightfall crept over
Philadelphia, citizens wondered what the next day would
bring forth. Can you visualize in your mind what it must
have been like on that fateful night in American history?
Tomorrow's celebration will be different from any other in
our past. Between this observance of Independence Day
and the last one, 9/11 happened. Now we are all wondering
what the price of our continuing liberty will be. It cost our
forefathers everything. Are we planning to pay less?
--Reprinted with permission from ByLine Online, a free email subscription.
Copyright (c) 2002
Media Ministries of the Assemblies of God.
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