4th Of July

4th of July
By Larry Linville

Our country celebrates it’s birth each year
with parades and fireworks and flags.
War talk flows from the lips of each speaker
and each one, of our strong prowess brags.

The church takes the lead in these words of war.
Prayer warriors and culture warriors, too
join with Christian soldiers, going to war,
to bolster a violent point of view.

Freedom is present in all that we sing,
but it’s less than the Bible proclaims.
It’s good, and yet it’s so incomplete
in describing the things Jesus names.

Peacemakers are blessed, Jesus once said.
And he said to turn the other cheek.
Show love to all of your enemies
because blessedness comes to the meek.

Can we learn peace comes from love, not hate?
Can we learn how to live with each other?
He told us to be the servant of all,
and reach out and care for our brother?

© Copyright 2007 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com).
All rights reserved. Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.