Forget Iron Man and Superman … look to a true hero this Independence Day

As superheroes continue to light up the big screen this summer taking in hundreds of millions, another type of heroes should take the spotlight of your Independence Day weekend. Superman and Iron Man might have powers you would never harness, but other ageless heroes touted a power that all can tap into – the power of Jesus Christ.

From our first president to the creator of the modern dictionary, United States history has no shortage of heroes from which youth and adults can aspire – especially when it comes to living out their faith and giving the glory to God.

Let’s take a brief look at some heroes who won’t burn out as fast as a firecracker or a box office smash.

• George Washington: Many people don’t realize that Colonel Washington was the only officer on horseback who wasn’t shot down – and he gave all the glory to God. Our first president was one of the most influential men in building history’s greatest, most powerful and successful nations – based upon the principles of the Bible that he lived out every day. He is chronicled as being a God-fearing man who faithfully placed God first in his life and led others by example to boldly and courageously do the same.
   
• Benjamin Rush – This signer of the Declaration of Independence has been celebrated as one of America’s three most notable men. He lived out his Christian faith as he served under three U.S. presidents, founded the American Sunday Schools, as well as the Unites States’ first Bible Society. The American role model also led movements that abolished slavery and spurred prison reform.
   
• Abraham Lincoln: Known for crucial role in abolishing slavery and establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday to pay tribute to God, the 16th president is a hero of the Christian faith. His view of the Bible? “In regard to this Great Book, I have but to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the good Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong,” Lincoln stated. Standing on his biblical convictions, he led the Union to defeat the Confederate Army in the Civil War.
   
• Benjamin Franklin: Perhaps one of most famous scientists and inventors in American history, Franklin was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.  This Christian role model is quoted, “As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of morals and His religion as He left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is likely to see.” Besides his bout with lightning to explain the general theory of electrical action and invention of bifocal glasses, Franklin’s intense study of Scripture led to a lifelong quest to live out biblical morality.
   
• Noah Webster: This patriot joined a regiment during the revolutionary war and vehemently called for a national constitution to be adopted to build America upon sound Christian principles. He coined the phrase, “Education is useless without the Bible.” Most famously known for compiling the first American language dictionary, Webster (today known as the Merriam-Webster Dictionary), was a lifelong teacher of fundamental biblical precepts and prepared an American version of the Bible. A staunch supporter of George Washington, Webster established the first daily newspaper in New York City to champion and defend his hero.

These descriptions provide just a brief sketch of these heroes’ inspirational lives. Take a closer look into the faith that drove these patriots’ passion to excellence this Independence Day weekend by spending time exploring  books, video and the Internet with family and friends.