First, let me say that I love my country. I’m a flag-waving, firework shooting, red, white and blue-blood America-first patriot. Yet, I confess that until now I had never read the entire Declaration of Independence, that little document that ensures that we order our lattes without a British accent. Now, having read it, I would like to make a declaration of my own: Read it! For the first time in history, through the stroke of a pen (I mean quill) government was transformed from master to servant in a world altering moment.

            It is astounding that citizens of a remote outpost of the civilized world could turn human history on its ear. Where they got the courage and wisdom to accomplish it is found revealed on that 200 year-old parchment. You see, the Declaration of Independence is really a declaration of dependence; it is the indisputable affirmation by the people of this nation of their belief and faith in God. With five powerful and undeniable references to God, this country followed a path of destiny. Americans recognized for all time God as Creator of all men, God as supreme Lawmaker, God as the world's supreme Judge, God as the Source of all rights, and God as our Protector. The power was not in the pen, but in the faith of the men who wielded it.

            If you are among those who have never digested the magnitude and majesty of these national pronouncements, I set them before you now, excerpted and translated into modern English with the hope that you too will find these truths self-evident.

            “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, July 4^th, 1776: When it becomes necessary during the normal course of human history that a specific group of People find it undeniable that they must completely end their relationship with another group of People and assume in this world an equal, separate and sovereign status among nations to which the Laws of God entitle all mankind - common and decent respect for humanity compels that group of People to clearly and publicly declare their reasons.

            “We hold the following truths to be obvious and undeniable: All men are created equal and have been equipped and supplied by the Creator with certain rights that cannot and must not be taken away which include life, personal freedom, and the right to pursue happiness. To secure these God-ordained rights, Governments are created and they derive their power and authority from the People they govern, who give them permission to govern, and willingly submit to their authority. However, when any Government decides to take away the right of personal freedom and the pursuit of happiness, it is the right of the People under that Government to change the Government, or if necessary, get rid of the Government altogether, to recreate a Government which is once again founded upon the principles of freedom, and organized in such a way as to guarantee those freedoms . . . The Colonies have reached a point where they have no choice but to alter their current system of Government because their freedoms have been abused. The King of England has a long history of recurring abuses and seizing freedom by violent threats. The King has one single objective: to take absolute, dictatorial control over the Colonies.  To prove this, consider the following facts which we make public for the whole world to evaluate: (27 abuses of the King are itemized as proof that independence is warranted.)

            “Therefore, as the Representatives of the United States of America, we, the General Congress, having assembled and prayed to God about the honor and rightness of our conclusions, publish and declare with grave seriousness by the name and authority of the People of these Colonies the following: The United States have the right to freedom, and ARE free and independent . . . As free and independent States, we have the full right and authority to declare War, make peace agreements, build alliances with other countries, establish trade and commerce with the world, and do anything else that free and independent countries have the right to do.  In support of this Declaration, we rely on God to protect and provide for us and we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor in its defense.” (Modern Translation copyright of Brent Riggs)

            That is a declaration of dependence I would put my 'John Hancock' on any day.