Independence Day is a time for great rejoicing at the Phillips home. It is appropriate for a nation to give thanks to God for His providential direction in their history. Families across America should use this day to remember and rejoice. We try to do both with great gusto.

This morning, we enjoyed a brunch in the tradition of my father and grandfather. I prepared a meal of fried matzo — a little Yiddish dish which my children have come to love. We also gathered as a family to watch the superb film A More Perfect Union about the Constitutional Convention. This sparked much discussion, so afterwards we sat for a devotional on the history of American freedom. We read from R.J. Rushdoony’s excellent treatise This Independent Republic. Next, we had a special time of celebration in which Beall and I sang a slightly bowdlerized song from the musical 1776 about the committee on the Declaration and the debate between Adams, Franklin, Sherman, Livingston, and Jefferson as to who would draft the document. This was followed by fife and drum music throughout the house and much enthusiastic dancing with my daughters. (Jubilee especially loves to dance with and be swung by her father.)

At 2:00, the Richard “Little Bear” Wheeler family arrived and we spent the afternoon at the San Antonio Alamodome for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. After the circus and a nice meal at Mr. Gatti’s, we traveled to the country for a fireworks display where we met friends and fellow saints. The delightful light show being finished, “Little Bear” and I shared a brief speech on the Founding Fathers, the Articles of Confederation, the glories of the Constitution, and we lamented the tragic anti-constitutional decisions this week in both the 11th Circuit and the Supreme Court. Before the day was over, I reminded my son and daughter Liberty and Justice, that they had special names from the Lord, and should look upon Independence Day as a reminder of the calling God has placed on their lives. From beginning to end, our family celebration was satisfying and delightful.

Thanks be to God Almighty for America. May God be merciful to us. May our children’s children maintain the most profound spirit of gratitude for the manifold blessings of God on our nation.