CHASING AMERICAN LEGENDS

Ep2 Teaser

Episode 2 – Lives, Fortunes, & Sacred Honor

 

 

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Lives, Fortunes, and Sacred Honor

There are few places I enjoy visiting as much as Independence Hall, in the heart of Philadelphia. I always make sure to take the kids to the Museum of Art, so that we can run up those 72 stone steps just like Rocky Balboa! There is so much history in Philadelphia that you can almost feel the presence of greatness surrounding the heart of the city. We were blessed to be in Philadelphia for this episode to speak to a group of business leaders, in the actual Independence Hall where the Founding Fathers stood and built our great nation. Tracing their footsteps, standing where they hammered out our founding documents, you get chills…you can still feel the courage of their convictions.

Unfortunately for us on this particular trip, the federal government decided to experience a funding crisis right as we flew into Philadelphia! What are the odds of that? While it caused some scrambling on our end, it made for an interesting episode, and ended up working out after all. Not only did the kids get the chance to see some cool places while looking for a back-up venue, but we ultimately still had the privilege of speak in my favorite historical site, Independence Hall. It was an honor for the Green family to teach and share the stories of this hallowed ground of history. This was a very special trip that we will never forget.

—Rick Green

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The Challenge:

Find a new venue as historic as Independence Park before our guests arrive for the Constitution Class we’re teaching. (while praying the government shutdown ends and the Park Rangers can open in time!)

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With less than 10 hours to find a backup venue, we decided to split up in our search. The extra benefit was that everyone had the chance to visit some cool sights we would not have seen in our regular schedule. You’ll see them in the episode, but we’ve included some additional fun facts and information here for study!

—Rick

Christ Church in Philadelphia
Trey and Reagan were convinced they found the perfect location on their very first stop. Also known as “The Nation’s Church,” because of how many founding fathers and other revolutionary era leaders worshiped there, Christ Church is filled with history and charm. Founded in 1695, Christ Church is actually the birthplace of the

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American Episcopal Church. It was known for becoming the home church for many members of the Continental Congress, as well as Presidents Washington and Adams.

Baptizing both free and enslaved blacks, and opening her doors to all who wished to attend services and enjoy the word of God, Christ Church quickly became a beacon of hope for the community. Many historical figures, including seven signers of the Declaration of Independence, are buried on Christ Church property. There are also many military figures, explorers, and various revolutionary-era leaders buried alongside the signers.

The Graff House

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While Trey and Reagan were at Christ Church, the rest of the family was trying to get in to see the Graff House. Also known as The Declaration House, this is where Thomas Jefferson lived while he wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Named after its owner Jacob Graff, Jefferson lived in the rooms on the second floor while penning one of the greatest achievements and documents of any human writer in history. Sadly, in the late 1800s, the original house owned by Jacob Graff was deconstructed to make way for city expansion, destroying a priceless piece of history. The house was reconstructed in 1975 using accurate architectural plans of the original home and many authentic furnishings.

Independence Hall
Much to our relief, the Park Rangers came through like champs and were able to open Independence Park just in time for our class. Originally constructed in 1732 for the purpose of housing Pennsylvania’s government, this beautiful building quickly became an important location for the United States. It was loaned out by the Pennsylvania government for the meetings of the Second Continental Congress and later, the Constitutional Convention. It was here in 1775

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that George Washington was appointed Commander in Chief of the Continental Army and the Articles of Confederation were adopted in 1781. Within “The Assembly Room,” both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were signed. This single building has such an amazing wealth of history! We are so thankful for the Park Rangers protecting and preserving it and allowing us to bring history to life in this very special place.

Congress Hall
Right next to Independence Hall resides Congress Hall, which was the primary place of meeting for our U.S. Congress between 1790-1800. The House of Representatives met on the main floor, while the Senate met upstairs, directly above the house. In addition to housing our legislature, this is the very room where President Washington held his second inauguration, and four years later, the inauguration of President John Adams. This building was home to many landmark actions by the government, including the establishment of the Federal Mint and the creation of the Department of Navy.

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The Signing of the Declaration!

We believe in the power of re-creating historical moments and replicating the actions of our forefathers. So when we brought out the Declaration and gave everyone the chance to sign it, in Congress Hall itself, you could feel the emotional significance of the moment reverberating throughout the room! It was incredible to see everyone’s faces as they comprehended the gravity and seriousness of the moment. Yet, there was joy there also, as each individual came forward and signed the same pledge as the original 56 signers. That pledge states “for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor.” If you had to give that pledge today, what would it mean to you?

—Rick Green

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The Sacrifice of the Founding Fathers: Lives, Fortunes, and Sacred Honor
It can be difficult for us to imagine what it truly means to pledge everything that we have to a cause. We pledge ourselves to the United States, but our lives are so comfortable in today’s society that we struggle to truly understood what the Founding Fathers went through when they made their great pledge. When they signed that document, they quite literally were saying they believed so strongly in freedom, they were willing to completely give up their Lives, Fortunes, and Sacred Honor. For them, that actually meant giving up the things they pledged. Many of them lost their lives to war or prison, many lost their entire fortunes, giving it all to the cause of freedom. Many were hunted and scorned simply for being willing to speak out for freedom. They gave it all to birth this great nation. Is it too much to ask that each of us be willing to give up only a little to preserve it.

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The Charge!

This turned out to be a truly inspiring trip for the Green Family. We are so thankful for the opportunity to remind our fellow Americans of the great Blessings we have in this Nation.

Our Founding Fathers pledged their Lives, Fortunes, and Sacred Honor to each other and to the cause of freedom. What is being asked of us today is that we honor their sacrifice by exercising our freedoms and ensuring they are preserved for future generations of Americans. Today, giving of our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor is more of a privilege than a sacrifice. Our Family is asking you to join us in pledging to these three areas below as a way of contributing to the guardianship of freedom.

Lives: Be willing to give just a little bit of time to vote, pray, and carry out our civic responsibilities. Thirty minutes on the weekend to research candidates, or a visit with your local state representative can go a long way towards determining your vote in future elections, and therefore your influence on our government.

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Fortunes: I know it is sometimes hard at first, but have you ever noticed how easy it is to give to a good cause once you see the positive results, the return on investment? Think of the return on investing in the future of liberty! If we desire to protect freedom, if we desire for our kids and grandkids to grow up with the same freedoms we have enjoyed, then we must be willing to give a small portion of our finances to effective organizations and candidates that will defend the principles and strategies of freedom here in America. Unlike the Founding Fathers, we don’t have to give every penny we have! We do need to be willing to sacrifice in small ways though. Maybe avoid spending money on Netflix or movies for just a couple of months, and instead send that money to a program that is training up the next generation of leaders. Invest in freedom’s future and the payoff will be worth it. Check out PatriotAcademy.com and WallBuilders.com if you’d like to see your “investments in freedom” bring a great return of liberty for future generations.

Sacred Honor: This might be the toughest sacrifice to make, even above finances. The Founding Fathers were willing to stand against a nation, to stand against a superpower in the name of freedom. Are we willing to stand for those same timeless principles

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of liberty, even in the free society that we live in today? All it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing. Evil too often wins today because we are not willing to stand up and fight, even when we are in the majority! We must be willing to speak out, to send a letter to our local newspaper editor or post online, voice support for local candidates, and convince our pastors to begin preaching Biblical principles applied to the world (just like the Black Robe Regiment of the Revolutionary War). More than anything, we must not be afraid to take the step of using the
voice and influence God gave each of us. The insults that will be hurled at us for standing for truth are nothing compared to the bullets taken by those who came before us.

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The Torch of Freedom is not a self-sustaining flame; it must be guarded, and it must be instilled in each generation. We best honor those who protected our freedom in the past by doing our part today. Live out and fight for your freedom so that it may be passed in tact to the next generation.

—Rick Green

Discussion Questions

Essay Question

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Guest Profile: Gary Newell
Gary Newell is a former professional football player. After football, he was called to youth ministry and founded Outreach America (for more information visit OutreachAmerica. org). Gary has spoken to over a million young people on four continents and ministers across the globe at camps, conferences, and churches. He is also a successful business owner passionate about sharing lessons on integrity, teamwork, and unity. Gary is a good friend to the Green Family who shares our passion for truth both within today’s society and history itself.

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Special Mention: The National Park Service Rangers
The National Park Rangers are in a nutshell, the custodians of our precious historical sites! Park ranger is a broad term for a career that is incredibly multi-faceted and diverse. Park rangers are responsible for protecting our state and national parks. Park rangers may serve as law enforcement officers, nature experts, historians or a combination of the three. The Greens have had the honor of working repeatedly with the Rangers who protect both Independence and Congress Hall. We are eternally grateful for their constant and joyful vigilance in the guardianship of our nation’s treasures.