| Robin Amick celebrates her birthday on the 31st. Kari and Michael Richards celebrate their wedding anniversary on the 31st. |
| Our staff will take a short breather July 29-30, as we complete the summer camp and begin the fall retreat season on July 31. |
| We appreciate the hard working summer long Omega team: Josh & Hannah Fell, Callie Morrow, Beth Schwingel, Aaron Curtis, Katie Steen, Nathan Goodlet, Tricia Daugherty, Sydney Matthews, Daniel Harris, James Keller, Scott Irwin, Sara Monday, Liz Kretzer, Jessica Cooper & Hallie Hull. |
I love the 4th of July. It is the celebration of our nation’s declaration of independence from foreign rule. It is marked with fireworks, picnics, water sports, and gatherings of friends and family. In times like these it is also a sobering reminder that freedom comes with a price. Over the 230 years of our existence countless soldiers have given their lives in the due process of securing our liberty. Thomas Jefferson stated it this way, ``The tree of liberty must be watered from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
In declaring their “independence” from England, the founding fathers declared their “interdependence” on each other. Benjamin Franklin clearly stated the necessity, “We must all hang together or assuredly we shall all hang separate.”
As Christians, we must realize that Jesus Christ established our Independence Day with His death, burial, and resurrection. He truly watered the Tree of Liberty with His precious blood. He calls us to be His body on earth—with all the many parts interdependent on one another. Even to the point that if one suffers, we all suffer.
Lake Aurora is an extension of that body. We are interdependent on each other to successfully minister in peninsular FL. LACC offers opportunities for the owner churches to extend their umbrella of ministry beyond their own community. We are uniquely situated with facilities and staff to fulfill this joint outreach to the youth of our region. We are interdependent upon each other. The shared resources of 86 churches can accomplish far more than we ever could individually.
As we celebrate our freedom in Christ, let us not forget our responsibility in Christ. We have the joint responsibility to preach, teach, disciple, and baptize. The greatest celebration of our precious freedom is to share it with others. God makes us more productive in our unity. Let’s hang together!