Fifty years ago Jan and I attended the Bicentennial Celebration parade in Adams-Friendship, Wisconsin. I was serving as a summer interim pastor there before my final year in seminary. The city pulled out all the stops with bands, floats, fancy cars, sirens, and beauty queens! I mounted a sign on a pickup truck about Baptists and the 1st Amendment as the First Baptist entry—not a prize winner but I’m sure it impressed all the Catholics and Lutherans! Jan fixed Tex-Mex Sunday lunch with queso for the entire church (20 people); most had never eaten such a thing. Good times to remember. Now Happy Semiquincentennial America!
Happy birthday, America! I have some wishes to share with you!
My family has been with you for quite a while. I can wave a flag with pride.
John Payne, my 6th great paternal grandfather, was born in Virginia in 1705.
I’ll have more pride when the parents of every child born in America have healthcare provided as a human right and supported like public education.
My 6th great maternal grandfather, William Magill, brought Scotch-Irish heritage when he arrived in 1726. He led his wife Mary and five children to flee poverty in Ireland to find a new and secure life in Virginia.
I’ll have more pride in America when equality and opportunity are real for all without barriers of any kind.
My 5th great maternal grandfather, James Stagg, fought the British at the battle of Monmouth, New Jersey in 1778. His wife kept the fires at home during years of danger and hardship.
I’ll have more pride in America when the Bill of Rights approved in his lifetime is not ignored by those who swear an oath to defend it.
My 2nd great maternal grandfather Harrison Allen fought for the Union Army and died of war injuries. His wife Anna took care of seven children during the war and after his death.
I’ll have more pride in America when all workers are paid a fair wage that can support a family.
My 2nd great paternal grandfather Larkin Marrs fought for the Confederacy and endured two years in a Union POW camp. His mother Mariah waited and prayed for his return to recover and rebuild the divided country.
I’ll have more pride in America when honorable leaders are in office striving for the ideals of our nation rather than fleecing it.
My grandparents Albert and Iona Payne kept the Payne Produce Store going through the great Depression. My grandparents Ralph and Anna Magill had to close his lumber yard in the Depression but labored on his Missouri farm during WW 2 to take care of the family.
I’ll have more pride in America when we give the world the highest values of freedom to follow and not the lowest examples of exploitation to dread.
My father Carl Payne served in the Pacific Theater for two years during WW 2. My mother Julie took care of two children and worked to keep food on the table while he was gone. Upon his return, he built and owned a great business for over 30 years.
I’ll have more pride in America when our economy pays more attention to welfare of the planet than profits for the next quarter to pay for a billionaire’s private island.
I hope you will join me in building a nation that makes us want to wave the flag with pride for many more years to come.
Happy Semiquincentennial America!
The year 1976 brought the 200th anniversary of America. It was a landmark year for Jan and me as we established our careers, started a family, and dealt with the challenges of a changing nation. I tell the humorous and fascinating story in my book Journey to Friendship: A Memoir.
The Kindle ebook edition is on sale now!
Time for a Podcast summer rerun that many people enjoyed…
Getting a good night’s sleep is important. But it’s not always easy. Sleep science offers a better tomorrow by improving what happens tonight. Let’s explore more about your well-being through good sleep habits. Looking at the example of Jesus, making a few minutes of pre-sleep preparation, and a tracking your nocturnal adventure can make all the difference!
Segments include
A casualty of sleepiness
The challenges and benefits of good sleep
A sleepy Savior
Practices for improving your rest
Listen on Apple or Spotify podcasts or with my podcast host Buzzsprout
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