The definition of ‘freedom’ from: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/freedom
1.  the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint: He won his freedom after a retrial.
2.  exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.
3.  the power to determine action without restraint.
4.  political or national independence.
5.  personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery: a slave who bought his freedom.
9.  frankness of manner or speech.
15.  the right to enjoy all the privileges or special rights of citizenship, membership, etc., in a community or the like.
16.  the right to frequent, enjoy, or use at will: to have the freedom of a friend’s library.
17.  Philosophy . the power to exercise choice and make decisions without constraint from within or without; autonomy; self-determination.

Freedom can truly have a different meaning to every person.  I thank God every day for the freedoms that I enjoy and those that have sacrificed to provide those freedoms to me and to anyone that lives in our great nation.

As I’ve been preparing to celebrate the Fourth of July, I’ve been reflecting on this country, our past and current struggles, those that have sacrificed and my hopes for our future.  Despite the wrongs and the failures we’ve had, I am still proud of this country and proud to be an American.  I am extremely grateful that men and women are still willing to put on a uniform and fight for us.

I know it is not memorial day, but if you read this please remember those that have sacrificed to grant us the freedoms that we enjoy.  General George S. Patton said it the best:

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.

For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? (Luke 9:25)

Some translations use the word ‘loses’ or ‘forfeits’, another uses the words ‘and destroys his soul?”  In the pursuit of the ‘American Dream’ sometimes I think people lost site of the real costs of success.  Is the vacation house worth missing all of your kid’s soccer games?  Is it worth losing your friends, family or spouse?  Is it worth it to ‘store up treasures’ here on earth?  To some I guess the answer is yes.

I am striving to remember everyday the words spoken in Luke 9:25.

Does having 200 blogs saying the same thing increase the value of that knowledge?  Are we really getting any benefit from it?

I really don’t know.  I question the value of the different websites that I have, this one included.  Other than personal outlet or creative expression, am I really doing anything positive by writing on this blog?  Am I really using my time wisely by writing this? I’m not sure, I guess I felt that it was worth thinking about.

I have been receiving a lot of emails lately are completely inaccurate, it is almost sickening.  The one that has pushed me over the edge was a forward that had the following line at the start of the email:

Per Snopes.com

The email that followed that line talked about how we should all stop using the U.S. quarter because they have taken “In God We Trust” off of the coin.  Well, if this was true I’m sure that it would upset me to a point, but its not true.

I get all sorts of these emails.  Ranging from “In God We Trust” not being on our coins, to the IRS requiring us to register all of our firearms, and even that Starbuck hates soldiers and won’t sent them coffee.  Honestly these are issues that may or may not concern me (most would), but if this stuff was true do you really think that the only way to spread the word is to forward the email onto the 20 people you have in your address book?  Why wouldn’t even the crazy right winged Fox New’s report it?  Why wouldn’t Glen Beck shout about it (or cry)?  Even CNN would mention these things if they were true.  COME ON!!

My final point is that it takes 30 seconds maybe even a whole minute to Google something and find out if there is even the remote part of truth in it.  If so THEN forward it on, but if you can’t take the time to check then don’t waste my time and energy to do so.

Anyone that knows me well, knows that I have a deep love for this wonderful country.  There are many things that make me extremely proud to be from this county, and there some things that disappoint me about our country.  No one is perfect and no nation is perfect.

I can not express the thanks that I have for the people that have given their lives or put their lives on the line to give and defend the freedoms that I enjoy. Most Americans take for granted the multitude of freedoms that they have.  And most people do not understand the sacrifice that was made by thousands of men and women to grant those freedoms to us.

I am proud to live here and claim that I am an American, regardless of what anyone else thinks or believes.  And that is one of the greatest American Freedoms!

I am attempting to add some direction to the blog and not have it be just completely random crap.  That is why I decided to just use an out of the box theme and not try to focus on make it “look good” but actually focus on writing some content that’s semi-worthwhile.  But I make no promises.

-Yeti