"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government"

Excerpt from the Declaration of Independence…

How far we have strayed from the sentiments of our forefathers! The very events that stirred our founders hearts have aroused themselves in our present day Government. Those “Self Evident truths” no longer appear Self Evident.The unalienable rights endowed by our Creator have been replaced by allowances, endowed by our Government. The right to choose replaces the right to life. Our Bill of Rights is quickly becoming non existent, and our ability to pursue happiness is taxed away while others are bailed out. I fear that the checks and balances our forefathers implemented are rapidly being superseded by Activist Judges! The Tea Party was a start, we must let our voices be heard before we lose them all together. We are still a Nation who’s power is derived from the consent of the governed. God help us should that ever change.

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Those Nights: by Skillet

I remember when we used to laugh about nothing at all. It was better than going mad
From trying to solve all the problems we're going through       
Forget 'em all
Cause on those nights we would stand and never fall
Together we faced it all
Remember when we'd
 
Stay up late and we'd talk all night
In the dark room lit by the TV light
Through all the hard times in my life
Those nights kept me alive
We'd listen to the radio play all night
Didn't want to go home to another fight
Through all the hard times in my life
Those night kept me alive

I remember when we used to drive anywhere but here
As long as we'd forget our lives
We were so young and confused
That we didn't know to laugh or cry
Those nights were ours
They will live and never die
Together we'd stand forever
Remember when we'd

Stay up late and we'd talk all night
In the dark room lit by the TV light
Through all the hard times in my life
Those nights kept me alive
We'd listen to the radio play all night
Didn't want to go home to another fight
Through all the hard times in my life
Those night kept me alive

Those nights belong to us
There's nothing wrong with us
Those nights belong to us

I remember when we used to laugh
And now i wish those nights would last

Stay up late and we'd talk all night
In the dark room lit by the TV light
Through all the hard times in my life
Those nights kept me alive
We'd listen to the radio play all night
Didn't want to go home to another fight
Through all the hard times in my life
Those night kept me alive

Stay up late and we'd talk all night
In the dark room lit by the TV light
Through all the hard times in my life
Those nights kept me alive
We'd listen to the radio play all night
Didn't want to go home to another fight
Through all the hard times in my life
Those night kept me alive
Those nights belong to us
There's nothing wrong

 

"True Friendship is revealed when one person turns to the other and says...you too? I thought I was the only one!"-C.S. Lewis

"Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."-Ecclesiastes 4:11-13

Its only been six months since my best buds and I parted ways, graduated highschool and each went out to save the world. As I am physically and mentally tested by the challenges that not only my life style choice has brought me but the overall responsibilities of  being a grown man, I realize just how valuable friendship and strong brothers in Christ are. I can't help but Thank God for all of you guys, and I hope and pray that we will be able to continue to influence each other in positive ways for years to come!

Dan, Doug, Chris, and Eli...I thank God for all of you.

We've worked together, studied together, competed against each other, talked about everything from girls to cars, and hammered out matters of philosophy and theology no 18 year old boys should even be able to think about. Let alone argue on half way intelligently.

May God have mercy on the women we marry, when we introduce them to our old highschool buddies!