Sparklers to Roman Candles

For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice,
but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation
itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the
glorious freedom of the children of God. Romans 8 :64-21 (NIV)
This was the year! I finally got to shoot off some “real fireworks”! No more sparklers, and the little green tanks (that hardly ever worked right), no more spinners and “Pharaoh's snake”, you know the small black coal looking cylinder that produces a growing snake of ash when it is ignited? Not for me, no sir. I was finally old enough to purchase the good stuff; the Black Cats firecrackers, bottle rockets,
roman candles and the aerial fireworks that needed to be launched with a tube! I was so excited! In the past on the 4th of July, all I could do was watch my older brothers shoot off 
those items while I did the sparklers. Now it was my turn!
However, being old enough to shoot off the more powerful fireworks came with 
accountability. My Dad was always nervous because of the all the hay across the road. So my
responsibility was to make sure I had all ten fingers at the end of the night and not burn up
any of the round bales. So I made sure all was safe and that I was responsible.
Independence Day is more than shooting off fireworks and more than celebrating
freedom from tyranny. When it comes down to it, it is about celebrating “glorious freedom”.
And with that comes glorious growth, and glorious responsibility. In many ways it is just like
our Christianity. Through grace and Christ we receive glorious freedom and we grow in the
faith, we soon learn that with this comes great responsibility.
But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be
beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be
demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will
be asked. Luke 56:88 (NIV)
Grace & Peace
Blan