Today, we honor and lift up veterans from the unsung heroes to the shining stars like Benjamin Rush.  Dr. Benjamin Rush began his formal service to his country at the age of 30 when he was elected to the Continental Congress in 1776.  He voted for and signed the Declaration of Independence knowing that it made him one of the British most wanted.  Later he would also be one of the men who ratified the Constitution.

The congress appointed Dr. Rush to the office of physician-general of the military hospitals of the middle department.  After the war he was one of the founders of Dickerson College where he helped train over 2,500 student doctors.

During the horrendous yellow fever outbreak of 1793 in Philadelphia, he reduced the panic.  He stood against the common misconception that yellow fever was an epidemic but with proper hygiene and sanitary environments the fever could be wiped out.

He was a veteran, a statesman, a physician, and an unashamed Christian.  His associations also tell part of the story.  Among others, he was President of the American Society for the abolition of slavery; President of the Philadelphia Medical Society, Vice-President of the Philadelphia Bible Society.

His own words speak for his love of God and country.

“I do not believe that the Constitution was the offspring of inspiration, but I am perfectly satisfied that the Union of the States in its form and adoption is as much the work of a Devine Providence as any of the miracles recorded in the Old and New Testaments.” - Benjamin Rush

“My only hope of salvation is in the infinite, transcendent love of God manifested to the world by the death of His Son upon the Cross. Nothing but His blood will wash away my sins. I rely exclusively upon it. Come, Lord Jesus! Come quickly- Benjamin Rush

“The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty”.

God bless our veterans today and God Bless America!

I was reading the Declaration of Independence to my daughters and they lost focus … I think.  My reading of this document is lame but the real stars are the words.  History may seem dull but the liberties that we have been given must be passed down from generation to generation.  Following is a professional rendering of the Declaration of Independence.

It has taken me a while to get over losing everything I had blogged over the last year.  But today is a new day.  I may post some old blogs as I remember them but it is time to move on.  Have you ever been stuck in a rut by a bad decision?

I like the book Failing Forward by John Maxwell.  In chapter 3 he gives seven abilities needed to fail forward.

1.       Achievers Reject Rejection

2.       Achievers See Failure as Temporary

3.       Achievers See Failure as Isolated Incidents

4.       Achievers Keep Expectations Realistic

5.       Achievers Focus on Strengths

6.       Achievers Vary Approaches to Achievement

7.       Achievers Bounce Back

Now I am bouncing back!

I was trying to learn the ins and out of wordpress when I really messed up the data files!  I tried to make a backup but it did not work so I will begin again.  And yes, I already have a backup solution in place.