America - You've Had It Made Too Long

There is little doubt that America is riding thestanding up for the rights of Gays and Lesbians
wave. She is at the peak of her power and atwhile beating down manger scenes at Christmas
the top of her game. Trying to get her attentionand Ten Commandment plaques in public buildings.
would be a lot like trying to stop a train with aIt makes me wonder if even common heroism
handkerchief. Every similarity to previous worldhas fallen victim to perversion. Are these acts
powers notwithstanding our collective nationalheroic, are they really protecting our freedoms?In
behavior is so close to ancient Rome that all thatPennsylvania a law was recently rammed through
is missing is the togas. The land of the mightythe legislature that makes it illegal for a minister of
Caesars made a noise heard round the world forthe gospel to quote passages of the Bible from
a season then died alone in a protractedthe pulpit that cite homosexual behavior as a sin.
whimpering that went largely unnoticed as theThat law has been challenged by people with a bit
world entered the modern era. What can weof common sense still left to them in that state.In
learn from this? Leaving this question unansweredIraq and Afghanistan we are kept from entering
might normally imply that the answer isand searching mosques that are known centers
understood, however, it is apparent that forfor Islamic jihad groups or where weapons are
Americans nothing at all is understood.The dangersstockpiled and cached. They are considered
are ignored, the warnings go unheeded, and thecultural centers and thus are placed off limits.
party goes on. Contrasts of our lifestyle and thatContrast this to the latest effort to keep military
of other nations make us all the more pompouschaplains from praying in the name of Jesus Christ
and less willing to question our own indulgence. Wewith those who they are sheparding. Chaplains are
have been all to willing to conclude that thereguarding the spiritual welfare of our own soldier
must be something wrong with those guys overcitizens, is that any less important than the cultural
there. The prophet, bard and poet must now curbtraditions of foreigners?On a recent ride through a
their urgency and put out a more entertainingrural district of Arkansas I noticed that there was
message in keeping with the tone of the partya church building about every one and a half miles
spirit. We are only one step away from jailing,on the road I was on. There were Pentecostal,
hurting or killing the messengers who provide usFull Gospel, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian,
with a call to conscience. Or have we alreadyEpiscopal, Nazarene, Catholic and some unheard of
taken our first few baby steps in thatvarieties of churches stretched out in profusion
direction.Like a mangy little dog scampering behindfor well over two hundred miles.
us and nipping at our heals comes the ACLU