249 years ago next month was a monumental day in the history of the world, or at least in the history of North America. On that day the struggle of a bunch of farmers, tradesmen, hunters, and fur traders against the most powerful country on earth began. Two months before, the American colonials had been declared in a state of rebellion by the oppressive and tyrannical British Empire.

But the story actually started the year before. In response to numerous acts of colonial defiance, including the Boston Tea Party, the British government enacted strong laws against the colonies. Along with those law came a change in how the colonies were governed, with ever increasing taxes and oppression. Responding to those draconian laws and changes in government, the colonists held an assembly forming a Patriot Provisional Government and calling for local militias to train for possible hostilities with the British.

In April of 1775 the British government received information there might be arms, ammunition, and other military supplies hidden at Concord. Early in the morning of April 19^th 700 British soldiers, the British equivalent of the current ATF, were marching to Concord to seize or destroy those militia supplies.

At sunrise in Lexington, the British first shots were fired against the local militia and 8 militia men were killed, the British suffered one casualty. The American Revolution had begun. Ralph Waldo Emerson coined the original phrase “the shot heard around the world” appearing in his 1837 poem “Concord Hymn“.

You might ask why was that phrase so expansive and global in nature? That day, that battle, started a struggle of an oppressed people that ended with the first Constitutional Republic the world had ever seen. A divinely inspired governmental system that had never before previously existed on earth. A system of government formed by “we the people”, limiting government, and declaring rights come from God…and that government existed to protect and deffend those rights.

After killing the militia men at Lexington the British troops continued their march to Concord.

Arriving in Concord, at about 11am, the British were met by about 400 local militia men and another battle ensued. As the British began their retreat march back to Boston they were continually ambushed by members of local militias. Estimates are as high as 1000 colonial militia men took place in the ambushes. As the battle-weary British arrived back in Lexington they were rescued by another 1,000 British troops and began a combined retreat back to Boston.

The combined British units were able to reach the safety of Charlestown but suffered casualties throughout the day after being ambushed almost continually by local militias along their march. By the end of the day the British had suffered approximately 300 causalities, the colonial militias about 100. It would be another 8 years before Americans won their freedom, liberties, and rights away from the tyranny of the British Empire and their King…having defeated the most powerful military in the world.

That was 249 years ago next month, April 19th.

Today I am asking you to do something, something that many will jump at the chance, some may waiver, those in government may see it as a threat to their rule. In one month we will celebrate 249th anniversary of April 19^th, a day that all true patriotic Americans should be very proud of, should revel in their victory over oppression and tyranny. To observe the day a shot was heard around the world and began a new era in government.

On April 19^th, one month from now, I would like you to gather with friends and family, enjoy a picnic, a quiet meal, or simply a desert together. Review the events of April 19^th, 1775. Point out that the British government not only was the most powerful government/empire in the world at the time, it was the richest, and had the largest, most powerful, most professional, most lethal military in the world.

Talk about how a group of idealistic colonists formed citizen militias, fought, and won the day. If you have time, discuss the Declaration of Independence that came about the next year, what it meant, what it did, and the movement that it not just documented and started…but what it meant to the entire world in the following years…and what it means to us today.

Take a moment and read aloud the “Concord Hymn” to each other. Feel the swell of pride well up inside of you. Feel the awe and reverence for those men that day, in that place, at that time, what they did, and what they risked.

Then, as if in prayer, read together the last sentence of the Declaration of Independence. Quietly, in deep reverence, listen. Listen to that still small voice inside. Listen to the Spirit that you feel deep in your heart. Then follow that prompting.

Concord Hymn

Please pray for our country. Pray for divine intervention. Pray for softened hearts. Pray for peace.

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