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Have you ever given much thought to freedom? I suppose that depends on where you live and what kind of life you lived. I believe freedom means different things to each of us based on our situation and circumstances.

But what is true freedom?

I live in America – a country many refer to as "the land of the free" - a country founded on freedom. I believe I am very blessed to live here. I know there are lots of places around the world where people do not experience the same kind of freedom I have experienced. I also know there are many men and women who have and continue to fight and die for my freedom. I am so grateful for those who serve in the armed forces here in America. I do not take my freedom for granted.

In 1776, a few were very concerned about their loss of freedom. The King of England had imposed what many considered unjust laws and excessive taxation without representation. However, most of the colonists were complacent. They were afraid to stand up for their freedom. But at great personal risk, there were 56 men who stood up for their rights and signed their names to the Declaration of Independence. It was adopted on July 4,1776, and a new nation, The United States of America, was born.

I am just so grateful I live in a country founded on freedom and where I have the opportunity to express my freedom. It is with great pride I wave my flag, vote, practice my religion of choice, and sing patriotic songs.

One of my favorite songs is entitled "America." In researching the history of this song I learned that its writer, Samuel Francis Smith, was in his last year of seminary at Andover when he wrote it. He was very poor and in an effort to make ends meet, he accepted writing jobs. This is where he met musician Lowell Mason who asked him to translate some German verses for a song book he was preparing. Among the tunes he handed Smith was a German patriotic hymn entitled, "God Bless Our Native Land." When Smith read it, he immediately felt the United States needed its own stirring national poem. Writing on scraps of paper, he finished this poem entitled "America" within thirty minutes. Its first verse says, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty of thee I sing; land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims' pride, from every mountain side let freedom ring."

This song has stirred the hearts of many - including Dr. Martin Luther King, who quoted this song during his "I Have A Dream" speech. Dr. King profoundly ended his speech with the following: "And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

I love living in a free country, but more than that, I have blessed in having experienced real freedom. "Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Have you ever experienced real freedom?

Regardless of where you live or what you do for a living, regardless of your past or present circumstances, you too can experience real freedom.

I’m talking about the freedom that comes when you know "the truth." It is life-changing freedom that goes beyond singing songs, waving flags, and voting.

The way to know that truth and experience real freedom is by surrendering your will to Jesus Christ.

Real freedom does not come from experiencing "a truth" or our own subjectivity reality. It comes from knowing "the truth." Notice Scripture does not say, "And you shall know truth." It is very specific. It says "You shall know THE Truth."

It is my prayer that regardless where you live or what you do –you come to know THE truth and in knowing THE truth you will experience real freedom.

I also offer you this challenge… if you already know THE truth, are you willing to proclaim it to those who need to hear it?

There are many who are desperate to hear the truth. Will you tell them?

I pray you accept this challenge and share THE truth with someone else this week – a let freedom ring!

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

The Curse is Gone