When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one man to dissolve the spiritual bonds which have enslaved him, and to assume the union to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God call him, a decent respect to the opinions of all requires that he should declare the causes which impel him to the union.

I hold these truths to be self-evident, that all are in need of God’s great love, that they are blessed by their Creator with certain unwarranted gifts, that among these are Love, Forgiveness and Grace. -- That to secure these gifts, We must need do nothing save believe, -- That these gifts are offered to us despite our sin and fallen nature, and that God pursues us as the great Hound of Heaven, ever relentless and ever hopeful of our turning. Wisdom, indeed, would dictate that God’s great favor should not be ignored nor rejected for light and transient causes; and yet all experience has shown, that we are more disposed to ignobly suffer, and revel in our sin, than to right ourselves by true heartfelt repentance. But when a long train of painful abuses and withering defeats overcome our spirits, it is only right, it is our only hope, to throw off the chains of sin and death, and turn in humility to the Author and Finisher of Faith. -- Such has been the journey of this Man; and such is now the necessity which constrains me yield my former Life to the Master.  The history of the Great King of Kings and Lord of Lords is a history of repeated faithfulness and provision, all having in direct object the salvation of my soul.  To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

• He has formed the Universe at His command and by His Word all things came into being.

• He has created humankind and given them dominion over all of His creation.

• He has saved Noah through the safety of the Ark and renewed His promise through Noah’s descendents.

• He has raised up Abraham to give birth to a great and mighty nation that would be as numerous as the sands of the sea.

• He has chosen the children of Abraham to be the bearers of the message of God to all nations.

• He has saved His people from the tyranny and slavery of Egypt and led them to the Land that He had Promised them.

• He has sent his prophets to call His children to faithfulness. They have convicted the hearts of the people and convinced them of the holy ways of the God of Israel.

• He has, in the fullness of time, given birth to His Son through the Virgin Mary.

• He has sent His Son, Jesus, that all might know God’s love and experience eternal life through belief in Him.

• He has demonstrated victory over sin and death through the resurrection of Jesus from the Grave.

• He has given us power to live victoriously by the presence of His Holy Spirit.

• He has promised to faithfully guide and direct the lives of His followers so that they may dwell in wholeness, health and security.

• He has promised to return and claim those who call upon His name and receive them into the Kingdom of God.

• He has promised that nothing in all of creation can separate us from His great Love.

I, therefore, John M. Wunderlich III, by Authority of the Holy Word of God, solemnly publish and declare, That I am, and of Right ought to be Wholly and Completely dependent upon God; that He alone is the source of my strength, the fount of my wisdom and the object of my unwavering devotion. And for the support of this Declaration, I pledge to him my Life, my Fortune and my Destiny.

Mid-Week Musings

An Occasional bulletin from Christ United Methodist Church