This Fourth of July is especially significant as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence. It is a time to remember the courage, sacrifice, and vision of those who established our nation and secured the freedoms we enjoy today. As we reflect on our nation’s independence, it is also worth asking an important…

Happy 4th of July!  I am thankful for our freedom. But I was thinking about how divided we are as a country. People cannot hold different points of view without being verbally attacked or cancelled. Ideology has replaced decency and respect, escalating divisions and anger. I remember a sermon my brother, Reverend Dennis Marquardt, preached…

Happy 4th of July! As this holiday weekend approaches,  I remain thankful for our freedom. But I was thinking about how divided we are as a country. People cannot even hold different points of view without being verbally attacked. Ideology has replaced decency and respect, escalating divisions and anger. I remember a sermon my brother,…

When Islamist gunmen killed a 10-year-old Egyptian schoolboy’s father, he witnessed his dad standing firm in his Christian faith and refusing to recite the Muslim profession of faith. The price for his convictions cost his life. A boy, his brother and mother now live without their father. They are one of many Coptic Christians persecuted for their faith. We…

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More from Beliefnet and our partners