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I am Sandra - faithful steward. listener. shepherd. dream believer. hard worker. collects brass bells, boots. Jesus follower. contented. star gazer. homemaker. farmer. prayer warrior. country woman. reader. traveler. writer. homebody. living life large.

Tuesday, July 07, 2015

The Cost of Freedom


Contrary to what you might have heard or may want to believe, the Colonies/New World were established to serve as religious sanctuaries. Pennsylvania was established as a Quaker state, Massachusetts as a Puritan state and Maryland as a Catholic state.

"Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another two had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?
  
Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists.
Eleven were merchants.
Nine were farmers and large plantation owners, men of means, well educated and signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well the penalty would be death if they were captured.
  
Carter Braxton, Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in Congress without pay and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him and poverty was reward.
  
Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hlal, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnet, Heyward, Ruttledge and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr. noted that British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.

 Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.


Half of these signers of the Declaration of Independence were educated in theological, or divinity, schools; in other words, Bible schools.


At the Continental Congress, Benjamin Franklin offered a prayer and added, "Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance?"


Odd, that doesn't sound like a non-Christian to me. 


In Jefferson's Bible was written, "I am a real Christian, that is to say, a disciple of the doctrines of Jesus. I have little doubt that our whole country will soon be rallied to the unity of our creator." 

Thomas Jefferson was Chairman of the American Bible Society and Patrick Henry said, "it cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great Nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here."


In 1777, the First Continental Congress authorized purchasing 20,000 Bibles from Holland and in 1781 the Aitken's Bible was received Congressional approval. It was also the first Bible printed in the New World. 


I think it fair to say our Founding Fathers didn't want religion, rather they wanted Relationship. Religion has caused, does cause, wars, divisions, contention, and all sorts of evil because it's man quest for power whereas Relationship with Jesus Christ ensures eternity in heaven. 


And, that's what it's all about...relationship with Jesus. Let's face it, if we live three score and ten (70) years, it's a drop in the proverbial bucket compared to eternity. I admit, there are days I'm overwhelmed with the arguing, fussing, fighting that's going on inside the beltway, on facebook, in local, state and national government. It's easy to be overwhelmed because I get my focus off eternity and on the hear and now. 


That's so wrong.


So, in July I read and think about our Founding Fathers and the truth...not what some people want to force me to believe. It takes time, effort,energy and research to find out the truth but the Truth will set me free.


The Cost of Freedom is a lot.


Blessings ~ Founding Fathers ~ Thomas Jefferson ~ Patrick Henry ~ Continental Congress ~ Benjamin Franklin ~ Declaration of Independence ~ Aitken Bible ~ 

20 comments:

  1. Anonymous8:50 PM EDT

    Makes me want to sing "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face..."

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  2. Miss Sandra again you inspire and amaze with your thoughts. What is so difficult for me is that how something that rings so clear and so true is now so far from where it began. Thank you for this piece and the honesty of it. More should see it then just those of us here.

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  3. Dear Sandra ~ This was great! This country is so far away from where it began. It is sad, and somewhat horrifying, but God knows all and He is working through everything to bring about His honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

    Have a lovely week there on your beautiful farm.

    FlowerLady

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  4. Very interesting read. This would certainly be the side of the story that you don't learn about in history class. You've brought the personal lives of those men to life; even now, everything is a headline and the truth behind the story is never delved into. Everyone forgets the human aspect. I will never understand why humans continually want to hurt each other in the name of religion or anything else. All doctrines teach respect and tolerance and acceptance and yet all of these things are all too often lacking. I stopped watching/listening/reading the news years ago because it's based on bias and negativity. I'd rather know nothing than to be constantly bombarded with all the bad. There really is a whole lot of good out in the world and if folks would concentrate on that, maybe a peace would actually be possible.

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  5. Wow, this puts things in perspective, Sandra.
    Great post.

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  6. excellent post thank you

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  7. Amen amen amen!!!!! Thanks so much for sharing the TRUTH!

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  8. Thank you so much for posting this! So true! I'm reading The Harbinger right now.
    It offers a lot to think about. These things you posted, I'd never heard before.

    BTW: I cannot tell you how invaluable the Pacsafe purse was on my journey! Thank you so much!

    Blogging and photos to follow.

    God bless!

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  9. here here !!!!!
    applauding you for sharing this
    important historical information. :)

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  10. Thanks, Sandra! You did a lot of research. I knew the signers of the Declaration suffered for taking a stand, but I didn't know the details.

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  11. Many Men and Women have died securing this Freedom! Now they want to erase our relationship that has cost so dearly! Thank you for the information history is forgotten when not shared!

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  12. Three score years and ten is 70 years, not 80 Sandra and I'm getting there fast! So many of us live too long these days and drain the planet's resources that if we don't do something drastic soon to reverse the process, it will be too late.
    It is interesting to me that so many people want to live in England nowadays that we are going to have to close our borders pretty soon for fear of being overrun! Recent news has revealed that 35% of Anericans would live somewhere else if they could. How the wheel turns!

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  13. I loved this! We used a Bible Study this spring called Monumental. I found the real history of our founding fathers fascinating.

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  14. Anonymous9:19 PM EDT

    Thanks so much for your inspiring words ALWAYS. I never fail to gain some new insight from your blog! And the thistle photo is marvelous. I have a love of thistles (photos, jewelry, etc.) perhaps because of my English heritage. Anyhow...thanks for the inspiration! Also, thank you for your kind words on my blog!

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  15. Sandra, as you know.. I'm not a religious person. However.. what you said?.. absolutely. And that's something I believe wholeheartedly.

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  16. I have studied these things, and do wish more Americans knew the truth about our founders. They were brave and sacrificial men and women. They didn't want freedom FROM religion, but freedom OF religion.

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  17. Hi Sandra - I know you won't take this as argumentative, but just as added piece of interesting history: the first bible printed in what would become the USA was actually the Eliot Bible, printed in MA in the 1660s. Eliot was amazing; a missionary who set about converting native peoples to Christianity by producing a Bible in "Algoquian." I've held one of the Eliot Bibles in my hands. :)

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  18. Wow, Sandra! So glad I came back to this post. I'm printing it out to reread every Independence Day. I collect and read books on the Revolution but I've never seen the facts laid out like this.

    Astounding! What a price they paid for us to be America.

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  19. Sandra, I have just read this post. So inspiring...thank you for sharing. Love the quote from Patrick Henry. So many have perished for our freedom, Lord knows not in vain. I thank God for our forefathers and godly men of today and in our future.


    Julie H from Michigan

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