With the recent celebration of July 4th, there is a word that has been sticking in my mind.  It is a word that I've definitely known for a long time and spoken many times, but never really connected with until this point.  That word is "freedom."  Freedom is an amazing word!  Especially when it comes to the kind of freedom that Jesus has made possible for all people.

As Christians we are to be God lovers and fruit bearers.

In John 15 Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” John 15.1-2

The year was 1858.  The young United States of America was being torn into two opposite directions.  There were those who supported slavery and those who were opposed to it.  The nation was in turmoil as it daily debated whether the use of slaves should be permitted.

In this day and age we are conditioned to think in terms of instant gratification.  We are the generation of fast food and text messaging; we hate to wait for anything.  Think about the last time you had to wait for something to arrive by 'snail mail,' or stand in line at the checkout counter.