Reflections on the Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is a great day.  I have a couple of personal reasons to say this.  Certainly we celebrate the tremendous gift of freedom we have as citizens of America.  We can reflect on the Founding Fathers.  We have so much to be grateful for.  We enjoy fireworks and hot dogs.  There is baseball and picnics and many other things to associate with this Independence Day holiday.
But here are two personal experiences I hold dear.
On the Fourth of July in 1970 (yes, that is 47 years ago) I was driving around in Butler, Mo. when I saw a friend of mine who was taking the girl he was dating to the fireworks display that night.  He asked if I wanted to go along and also invited his date to bring her sister.  So Cindy and I got together and watched the fireworks.  I guess you could call it our first date.  We have kept it up ever since.  We like the 4th of July.
A few years later, the Fourth of July weekend in 1976 (our nations bicentennial) Cindy and I were with another couple at a Lay Witness Retreat.  The preacher was Dr. Jimmy Buskirk.  The sermon was based on Acts 10 and titled "Where Do You Live?"  The invitation at that camp meeting setting was to "come put your knee in the sawdust and make your commitment to God.  Then tell someone before you sleep tonight."
I went and prayed.  Then I wandered away from the tent and in a field under the stars prayed that if God wanted me to be a preacher I would do so but He would have to make me one.  That was what I shared with Cindy that night and we committed to a life-long journey in ministry.
I have great reflections on the Fourth of July.  July 4 initiated a relationship that I considered the most significant (other than my relationship with Jesus) and meaningful in my life.  Thanks Cynthy, for being the spark of my life.
July 4 also stands as the day I said yes to the call to preach the Gospel.  This has become the life defining experience of our life together.
There you have it.  It's a great day.
steve