texasson's Blog

 As of this writing...Mother's Day 2008, I find myself looking at a country in the midst of a crisis. Not just looking at it, but living in it, as well. Seems every day, there is some evidence of this country's downward spiral. Higher oil prices, higher food prices, declining real-estate market, failing financial corproations, record numbers of forclosed mortgages, new scandals uncovered in our government and private corporations, new epidemics of various drug-resistant diseases, more crime, more violence, more tolerance for what used to be considered intolerable behavior, more wars, more poverty, more homelessness, more welfare recipients, more unwed mothers, more prisons and more prisoners, and the list of negatives just keeps getting longer and meaner. Were it not for my steadfast faith in God, I would have no choice, as a reasonably educated adult, but to be scared to death by what I am witnessing in this country and around the world on a daily, and sometimes an hourly basis. The perplexities that face this country alone are staggering. The plight of the world as a whole is cause for concern of its' own. However, we, as Americans, have a history of living in a country that has received blessings far and above those bestowed upon any other country in the world in terms of personal freedoms, boundless opportunities, self-sufficiency and victories over those who would have done harm to us and our way of life, dating up to and including the second world-war. That's when the U.S., as a country, began to take a downward turn that has increased in scope and speed to this very day.

 History books prove it...I'm not just making this stuff up. We were successful in world-war 2 and fought to a draw in Korea. We got our butts handed to us on the way out of Vietnam and have suffered one defeat and one embarrassment after another up to and including the present day (Mogadishu, Panama, etc.). And here we are, no closer to bringing our troops home from a futile conflict, started by hatred and vengeance and perpetuated by greed, than five years ago when this sin was first committed.

 Sin? What am I talking about...sin? Yup, that's exactly what I meant. You remember earlier when I mentioned my steadfast faith in God? Well, I wasn't just saying that to be cool, or witty or anything else except honest. If you can find it in yourself to be honest with yourself as you read the rest of my diatribe, maybe you'll get as clear a view as I have on the state of the world around us. Bear with me and indulge me for just a moment...

 This country was founded on religious beliefs. It was founded on the belief that all men were created equal under God, and that all men had inalienable rights...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. For its' first 175 years, this country and her inhabitants were bound by a very strong moral fabric. Since the 1950's and the introduction of "liberlaism" and the allowance by the general public of a "loosening" of the moral fiber that constituted that fabric, it has un-ravelled at our feet and we find ourselves with the mess we see before us as we go out our front doors each day. Mountains of "loose ends"...debt. Piles of unrecognizable things that used to be the order and peace of our daily lives. I guess I should quit trying to romanticize it and just call it for what it is...America the Beautiful...once blessed by God Almighty because we owed our very existence to His grace and sang, as a nation, His praises, has become America the Dirty...America the Down-trodden, America the Shamefull, America the Greedy...there are a thousand-and-one names for this country that better describe what it has become than "America the Beautiful". I fear that, unless there is a spiritual awakening in this country, unless the citizens of this once-great nation realize the nature of their individual and collective sins and how we have, as a country, thrown God right out the door, the only direction we can expect to head is DOWN! What else can you expect? If you call yourself a "person of faith"...moreover a Christian, can you honestly tell me that you are living to repay the debt you owe Him for the sacrifices He made for you on the Cross, or are you more concerned with making your own way in this world without seeking His Holy guidance? That's what has happened to America. We, those of faith, have sat back and allowed the forces of darkness to legislate God right out of our government. I don't know about your beliefs and unless you are a true believer in the teachings and the Word of Jesus Christ I don't really care what they are, I just know that I would rather my countrys' higher offices be staffed by men and women who bowed their heads in prayer every day, asking for the strength, courage and guidance needed to keep this country strong and free,than by someone who thought their labors didn't need to be brought before the Lord and prayed about. The history books are full-to-overflowing with the records of what has happened to this country since it lost its' moral compass. Like I said earlier...I'm not making this stuff up! Look back at history and see if you don't notice a downward trend in Americas' prosperity about the same time that morals started being relaxed and our covenant relationship with God began to be more for show amongst the self-righteous than for earnest thanksgiving and praise for what He has given us as a nation. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away...don't you see our country being slowly-but-surely taken away from us, the citizens, whose benefit and well-being was to be first consideration of our government? It proves out in the history books that while we were a good, moral, God-fearing society, we could conquer whatever challenge we, as a nation, were faced with. Now, we fear not God as a nation. We lust after the trappings of man and the gloss and glitter of the world. We forget that these things will soon come to pass, and that the one and only constant we have in our lives is Jesus Christ. We live like we have a clue what tomorrow may bring, when in point-of-fact, the best educated minds on earth can't, with any certainty or accuracy,  predict what will happen five minutes from now! Who are you kidding but yourselves if  you think that by ignoring God and His laws, things are going to turn out fine at the hands of mere men? You are witnessing evidence to the contrary every day! If you don't see it, it's because you choose not to. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, just means you refuse to acknowledge it. Oh, how I don't want to be in your shoes!

 I know I'm gonna get jumped on by the liberals and the athiests (no, I don't capitalize that word like the non-believers) and the devil-worshipers and by those who just don't, for whatever reason, know God and the joy that comes with that relationship. That's alright. As a Christian, I know I'm gonna get stuff hurled at me, but I can't let that keep me from telling the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts, but to know the truth is to find peace. Do you not want peace in your life? Then it's time for each and every Christian to bow your head and ask forgiveness for the sins that got us into this mess, and to ask His eternal guidance and blessings on this sin-ridden nation that we might once again find our faith in the Creator and live in accordance with His will so that this country might rise again in greatness to His Glory and His Honor.

 So, you want to blame Americas' woes on somebody? Start with yourself. If you can't honestly stand in your own footprints and admit that you and your lifestyle, combined with everyone else who puts themselves first before anyone or anything else, might have something to do with the current mess we find ourselves in, then I see no hope for this country. Each and every one of us who believes that God has richly blessed this country owes it to the survival of our nation to re-kindle your relationships with the Almighty. Insist that faith be re-introduced into our government, our schools, our businesses and our daily lives. Don't attend church for appearance sake, but for the right reasons! Pray for those who lead our country to increase their faith, thereby helping to assure this countrys' survival and prosperity. Without giving thanks for blessings received and without praying for continued blessings and guidance and protection, I feel this country is on a collision course with destruction and division. I ask you to consider the Pledge of Allegiance..."One Nation, Under GOD"...and ask yourself when the last time was that you recited it. Are you starting to see what I see all-too-clearly? That seperated from God, this country is doomed to failure? If so, then I strongly urge you to go to your Master in solemn prayer and ask that He reverse the trend we see daily. As for me, I don't concern myself with tomorrow. I know that there are no certainties in life except that God loves me and Jesus Christ died on the Cross so that my worldly sins against the Heavenly Father would all be forgiven. I really hate to see my country go down the tubes like this, but I can't save it by myself. I mean, I know what's wrong with it, but my prayers alone and the fact that I try to live by His law aren't enough to save it.  So, I take comfort in the knowledge that whatever happens to this country, I am safe in Christ Jesus. I know the benefits of my relationship with Him and I also know the debt I owe Him for His sacrifices. That and only that is what keeps me from freaking out in this crazy world. I'm 51 years old and until I asked Jesus into my heart, I lived a lonely, scary and often-times very uncertain life. That is no longer the case, and I know by what I am feeling as an individual that this same salvation can be had as a nation. But it's not going to happen until the believers of the Son of Rightesousness come together in His name to reclaim what He has given to us. That which has slowly and carefully been slipped from our grasp by the forces of darkness. That being our beloved America the Beautiful. Christians Unite! Take back our country in the name of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit! Put God in first place in this country and He will put this country in first place in the world! Shut God out and He will throw us to the wolves! The handwriting is on the wall...the next move is yours!!