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Like most people who were older than 6 or 7, I remember exactly where I was ten years ago when Islamic terrorists attacked our country and killed thousands of our citizens, as well as hundreds of citizens of other countries. 

I was at work at the GE Industrial Motors Plant in Owensboro, KY.  We all went and snagged up small TVs to put in our work spaces as the horrible drama unfolded.  We could hardly accomplish anything that day.  It was altogether unproductive. 

Less than a year previous, I had resigned my commission in the Marine Corps after serving nearly six years.  But, that meant I still had two years of inactive reserve duty to perform.  I fully expected to be called back to active duty, and was ready to go if called.  The call never came. 

A week after 9/11, I sat in the choir loft of the church I belonged to and wept bitterly.  I put my hands in my face and just cried and sobbed.  I cried for families who were suffering loss and extreme hardship.  I cried because the nation I loved had been dealt a devastating blow by her enemies.  But I cried primarily for my brothers in arms, still so fresh on my heart and mind.  I knew they would be the ones to begin paying the ultimate price for this obvious act of war.  And they continue, 10 years later, to pay that price.  May God go with them on the battlefields.

Upon reflection, however, not much else besides the military war has changed in our land, has it?  Oh sure, we have to endure a frisking at airports, but has anything truly deep and spiritual changed about us in America?  Following 9/11, there was a mini-surge of religious interest, and God did use the event to save the souls of some.  But by and large, Americans have gone right back to their old ways of seeking first the American Dream, fat bank accounts and 401k's, happy kids and happy meals.

And this is why I continue to weep, 10 years later.  Our economy has never recovered from the effects of 9/11.  We're more in debt now than ever before, and keep spending like a rich kid in a candy store.  We pretend we're wealthy, knowing we're really poor.  We've had record-breaking tornados, hurricanes, and earthquakes on the east coast and in the mid-west.  Fires rage in many parts of our land, drought is killing us, and floods consume what droughts do not.  Abortion keeps wiping out entire generations of Americans, especially precious black Americans.  And so I weep.

Our nation continues to be led, in homes, businesses, politics and sadly, in churches, by women.  Thank God for strong women, but friends, America has a drought of strong men.  American Christians are still being consumed by 60 hour work weeks, dual-income dreams, and lethargic parenting, while our children languish in the spiritual swamps of humanism and relativism.  Christian families spend more time each week playing Wii than they do studying the Bible together.  And so I weep.

You see, friends, I believe the Bible.  And all these things are viewed in God's Word as clear signs of Divine judgment upon a nation.  These words do not come easily for me, but it seems clear that God is judging America.  This land of plenty is being reduced to a wasteland.  Our economy is a mere reflection of our spiritual poverty.

The only question for God's people is how we will respond.  Patriotism is growing more difficult for me these days.  Don't get me wrong, I am still patriotic about the original American ideal.  But that true "Patriot Dream" seems so far removed from us today that I am very afraid that America is approaching the point where it will be futile for me to even pray or say "God bless America."  I still do want God's blessings, but I surely cannot expect them!

Hear the words of the weeping prophet Jeremiah, as he languished over the destruction of his people some 2500 years ago:

My eyes are spent with weeping, my stomach churns; my bile is poured out to the ground because of the destruction of my people, because infants and babies faint in the streets of the city . . . What can I say for you, to what compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem?  What can I liken to you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion?  For your ruin is vast as the sea; who can heal you?  Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading . . . all your enemies rail against you; they hiss, they gnash their teeth, they cry, 'We have swallowed her!  Ah, this is the day we longed for; now we have it; now we see it!'  The Lord has done what He purposed; He has carried out His word . . . He has made the enemy rejoice over you and exalted the might of your foes . . . let tears stream down like a torrent, day and night!  (Lam 2)

Oh, America!  Oh, church!  From where shall our help come?  Only from Jesus, who one day read from Isaiah and claimed He was the literal fulfillment of these words: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19).

But America and the Church must first see herself as poor, enslaved, blind and oppressed.  And, given our horrific pride, that's a tall order. 

America shall find her hope in Jesus the Christ, or she shall find no hope at all. 

I did something totally out of the ordinary yesterday - I went to an actual theater to see an actual movie.  To be exact, my awesome wife planned a special lunch date for me yesterday followed by a matinee.  She took me to see Captain America.

Captain America is the first Superhero I remember as a young boy.  The first coloring books I remember were Captain America.  I used to love getting the red, white and blue colors placed precisely on his uniform and shield. 

Born out of World War II, Captain America represented sacrifical service to one's nation.  Unlike more modern Superhero's, Captain America seemed to stand for all that was right and good and wholesome.  I don't think we'll ever see a movie titled Captain America: The Dark Years.  

And on this account, the move did not disappoint.  Now, I am no movie reviewer, so I'll spare you the details of the flic.  What I found very interesting, however, is how at the end of the movie (yes I'm about to give it away), Captain America woke up in the 21st century.  (He was frozen since WWII under polar ice - go see the movie to make sense of it all.) 

Doubtless, this lets us know there will be a sequel.  But, awaking Captain America for the current generation was also highly symbolic.  I don't know if you've noticed, but we Americans could really use a hero right about now!  We need a rescuer.

Friends, we need a Superhero who can rescue us from ourselves.  We are self-destructing - morally and financially and politically and spiritually.  Like Rome of old, we are rotting from the inside out.  A healthy dose of the self-sacrifice Captain America represents would do us well. 

But, as much as I like Captain America, not even he's up to the task before us in 2011.  What we need, especially and particularly in the Church, is a "Pre-Jericho Experience."

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked and behold, a man was standing before him with his sword drawn in his hand.  And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our enemies?"  And he said, "No, but I am the commander of the army of the Lord.  Now I have come."  And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped and said to him, "What does my Lord say to his servant?"  And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy."  And Joshua did so (Josh 5:13-15). 

While we could debate the identity of this "Captain of the Lord's Army," there is really not much need, is there?  Joshua worshipped Him and the Captain accepted his worship.  That rules out angels and mere mortal men.  And, the words the Captain spoke to Joshua were almost identical to the words of Almighty God spoken to Moses from the burning bush.  And, Joshua responded with worshipful submission and an eagerness to obey, much like Paul on Damascus Road, "Lord, what would you have me do?" 

Here's the Superhero we need - The Captain of the Lord's Army.  His Name is Jesus.  He is a Warrior par excellence who fights for His people by laying down His life for them, and then taking His life up again to vindicate His name and secure their right standing before Holy God (John 10:14-18; Rom 1:1-4; 4: 24-25). 

Only Captain Jesus will suffice to rescue us self-indulgent, disobedient Americans.  Are you crying out to Him to rescue you from your sin and filth?  Are you crying out to Him to rescue your children from materialism and secular humanism?  Are you crying out to Him to revive His people and His work in this adulterous age?  Are you crying out to Him to enthrone Himself on your heart and kick out all other competitors for your affections? 

What captain(s) are you proclaiming to your children?  Your co-workers?  Your neighbors?  Your enemies?

There is only one Captain, one Rescuer, worth giving up everything to gain.  "Come Lord Jesus!  Amen" (Rev 22:20).

Hermeneutics is the study of proper Bible interpretation.  Fancy word, simple definition. 

Miley Cyrus fans have seen her go from a "Jesus rocks" little girl to a rebellious liberal-minded faux believer.  The Hollywood brand of Christianity, touted by the likes of Cyrus and Beyonce, looks nothing like what Jesus Christ said it meant to follow Him. 

Please do not, I repeat, do not look to Miley for theology, doctrine or Bible interpretation.  Apparently she has been having a spat with a fan on FB over a "gay rights" tatoo she now has on her finger.  It is an "equals" sign and Miley posted something to the effect of "All Love is equal" on her fan page.  http://wonderwall.msn.com/music/Miley-Cyrus-confronts-fan-over-gay-rights-tattoo-1633175.story?gt1=28135 

One fan decided to take her on, and he has been ostracized and lambasted.  Miley of course used the most well-known (and most mis-interpreted) verse in the Bible - "Judge not lest you be judged."  That's Matthew 7:1 for all you Bible students.  Of course, interpreted in context (which is a hard and fast rule of hermeneutics that Miley obviously never learned), Jesus is actually teaching His followers how to properly assist a fellow believer fight sin in his or her life.  Jesus is actually telling us in Matthew 7:1-5 to judge according to the right standard (God's Word), and to fight sin and pursue purity in our own lives FIRST, so that we can then effectively help others identify and fight sin in their lives.  So, it's funny so many throw this verse around like it's the way to end all discussions of sin.  Even funnier that in context the passage is not at all addressing a pronouncement concerning sin among non-believers.

At any rate, Miley goes on to say "God is love."  So, that's her argument.  "Don't judge.  All love is equal.  God is love".  Tidy.  Neat.  Trite.  And a total distortion of everything the Bible teaches about judgment, God, and love. 

Precisely because God is love (1 John 4:7-11), any action posing as "love" that runs counter to His holy character is most decidedly not love.  By Miley's reasoning, pedophilia is also "equal love."  So, too, is "doggie love," called bestiality.  Friends, love is fixed forever.  Because God is its very source and definition, and He never changes, so true love never changes.  It is not open to Miley's whims!  God is love and showed us what love is by sending His Son in the flesh to bleed out for homosexual sinners and heterosexual sinners.  Jesus is love in the flesh!  His love penetrates all sin, breaks down all barriers, and is a settled act of His will that always acts sacrificially for God's glory and the good of the beloved.  This is the definition of love.  Sexual perversions which God has condemned have no claim upon "love."  Rather, they fall under "lust of the flesh."  They are the very wickedness that put True Love on the cross!

And, Miley should rest assured that it matters not whether she thinks it's "judging" someone to tell them their actions are sinful.  God is the Holy Judge of all the earth and every person will give account to Him.  Even if Christians never said another word about homosexuality being a sin, God will still judge it as such on the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord. 

Friends, to warn sinners to "flee from the wrath to come" is the most loving thing to do.  If God has spoken in and through the words of the Bible (and He has), then whether sexual perversions are sinful or not is not up for debate.  The Bible is crystal clear on those accounts.  It is not an act of judgment for me to simply tell people what God the Judge has said.  No, it is an act of mercy and love and compassion.

The Lord told the Prophet Ezekiel that if he did not warn the  people of his day, their blood would be on his hands.  That sounds pretty serious to me.

Miley, stop playing Hollywood games.  Repent and trust Jesus as Lord of all, rather than treat Him as your psychological feel-good guru.  Jesus never missed a single opportunity to warn sinners to fear the Holy Judge (and He even claimed to be that Judge in John 5).  Follow His example and use the platform He has granted you to "speak the truth in love."  Making sinners of any sexual persuasion "at ease" in their filth is sure to put their blood on your hands.  I advise against it.

And, please, Miley, go take a good Hermeneutics course.  They offer them at Boyce Bible College in your home state of Kentucky!  And while you're at it, interpret Psalm 5:5 for me.

California's Governor has just swept away any semblance of parental authority left in that state. 

He signed a law that essentially mandates the public schools promote the homosexual agenda and the homosexual lifestyle.  No warning necessary to parents; Teachers are just given free reign to do it.  Or, more correctly, they are now obliged by law to do it.  Read about the law here:

http://onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=1387852

Now those of us who have lived our whole lives in the South have always thought of California as a "quack" state, at least the Southern portion of that state anyway.  That said, I have met numerous devout followers of Christ from CA in recent years.  And, amazingly, some of the most biblical churches in our Nation are in CA.

But, the political policies streaming from that state, not to mention the hair-brained judicial rulings, prove clearly that the majority of the voters in California have absolutely lost any sense of moral sanity.  California has lost its way, in every sense of the word "lost."

It will prove very interesting to see how true Christian teachers in the CA public schools respond to this mandate to promote homosexuality to young children.  The right thing to do in God's eyes as revealed in His Word is crystal clear (Romans 1:26-32).  Promoters of sin are just as guilty before Holy God as practitioners of those same sins, including homosexuality.

More interesting still will be the response from Christian parents.  [It might be noted that even non-Christian parents who simply love liberty and hate tyranny should be standing alongside the Christians in the fight against this usurpation of parental rights.]   I often wonder what it would take for a mass exodus from the public schools to occur among Christian parents.  While the homeschool movement has grown by leaps and bounds in the past decade, and private schools, too, the overwhelming majority of Christian parents in America still send their children to be discipled by the state.  And in California the discipleship curriculum will now include pro-homosexual instruction. 

May many more Christian parents rise up and make whatever sacrifices necessary to disciple their children in the ways of Christ, and to carefully monitor any other teachers they allow to have authority over their children.  If parental authority is going to be delegated, then we had better demonstrate a soberness heretofore unseen.

Most disturbing of all in this whole situation is the cold, hard reality that what starts in California typically moves east.  May Almighty God help us hold off this onslaught, defeat it in California, and push it back into the Pacific Ocean.

Lastly, for those who think me a homophobe, I would like to point out that my stance against the homosexual lifestyle is motivated by total submission to the authority of the Bible (the breathed out word of God), as well as a loving desire to see ALL sinners redeemed from the bondage of sin by the bloody cross work of Jesus Christ.  Jesus can rescue sinners from the slavery of homosexuality, from drug addictions, from envy, greed, and lying.  Jesus saves sinners, and Jesus alone! 

And, it is well worth noting that in the list of sins the Apostle Paul gives in Romans 1:26-32, we have too often singled out homosexuality while ignoring "disobedient to parents."  It's right there in verse 30.  Go check it out for yourself. 

Maybe that's how we got to where we are in California?  I have watched Christians laugh at disruptive, disobedient children in churches my whole life, as if their rebellion is funny or cute.  I have watched children tell their Christian parents "no" all my life, with no consequences.  I have had to admit that the modern invention of "Children's Church" is a necessity due to unruly, totally undisciplined children in our churches.  Seems to me everyone but parents are training up children today, and when Christian parents actually get an hour or two with their children, they are baffled as to how to raise them up as children who submit to proper authority unhesitatingly.  If that's how we want our children to serve God (obey right away with joy in their hearts), then we are not doing so great at preparing them for this kind of humble submission, are we?

Oh well, enough soapbox rambling from this preacher.  One thing is obvious, Holy God is not laughing at any of our children's disobedience, or defiant attitudes, or cute little tantrums.  God is also not laughing at California's spitting in His face. 

Repent, for the Day of Reckoning is coming, dear friends!  "Be not deceived; God is not mocked" (Gal 6:7).

Today I read of two court rulings - one in CA and one in TX - both of which continued the governmental assault on parental rights. 

The CA case, which went to the Supreme Court, concerned violent video games being sold to minors.  Apparently the Supreme Court thinks it has a solemn duty to NOT protect children of any kind (born or unborn).  Funny thing, the government has intruded into every sphere of our lives but for some strange reason thinks minors should be able to buy violent games with absolutely no interference whatsoever.  That was the ruling from the High Court - CA has no right to restrict minor's access to video games that bring gore to a whole new level. 

And, here's the kicker, parents apparently have no right to want a law that helps them ensure their children cannot openly purchase this corrupting garbage without their physical presence and approval.  Say what? 

If the elected lawmakers of CA want a law to help parents properly shield their children from violence, then why should the Supreme Court even care?  The two dissenting judges rightly applied what the Founder's would have intended by saying, in essence, they would not have purposed for the government to give free access to harmful things to children because the Founder's strongly embraced and upheld parental rights! 

In other words, the government should encourage sound parenting, not discourage it, much less enable children to exercise their "freedoms" to the detriment of parental authority and the ruining of their own souls. 

But Founder's intent is not something many judges are concerned with today.

The second case in TX is even more disturbing.  A judge flatly told a mother to stop spanking her child, and gave her several years of probation.  This, in spite of eyewitness testimony that none of the spankings had caused any physical damage to the child.  The spankings did not even leave any bruises.  [My Daddy would say this mother was not even really spanking the child, but that's another story.]

Now Christian parents, here is a dilemma we will surely have to face more routinely in this country.  When, not if, the government tells us to stop spanking our children, what will we do? 

God give us grace to answer in an Acts 5:29 fashion.  The government does not know better than God how to raise children.

You can read about the two court cases at www.onenewsnow.com.

Several months ago, our local newspaper (www.jdnews.com) ran an article about the community of North Topsail Beach.  Apparently, at some point last year, prayer to open the town meetings was canceled.  But, a few alderman began to reconsider this PC decision.  So far, so good . . . until you see what they actually adopted.

You see, rather than allow clergy or board members to open their meetings in prayer as they were led of the Lord and their conscience (the American Way), the alderman and Mayor opted to adopt a "scripted" prayer.  Its theology is rich and its significance deep.  I hope you are sitting down as you read this stunning, powerful, poetic prayer:

"Bless this town, and may it remain a beautiful and friendly place to live.  We pray that this board makes fair and informed decisions tonight.  We also pray that our police officers, firefighters and members of our armed services, here and around the world, remain safe as they risk so much for our security.  We also pray that our town be spared the ravages of hurricanes and other natural disasters, and that everyone associated with the town remain safe and secure."

Now isn't this a nice, quaint, very American little prayer?  Who could possibly be offended by this prayer?

THE ONE TRUE GOD - THAT'S WHO! 

I would like to ask the citizens of North Topsail Beach if this is what they want in their leaders.  To whom are they praying?  The word "god" is not even mentioned, much less the title "God" or "Lord" or "Heavenly Father." 

Go back and take note of how often the words "safe" and "secure" are used.  This is what matters to Americans most today - that we get to keep our quaint, risk-free little lives with our picket fences. 

Interesting, too, that they pray to be spared from hurricanes and natural disasters.  They had better be praying to a BIG GOD if they expect that request to be honored.  Yet, they do not even so much as hint that they have any god in particular in mind.  I guess just whatever god comes to their resuce and ensures their peace, tranquility, and supports their ongoing comfortable lifestyles will do. 

THEY ARE PRAYING TO NOBODY IN PARTICULAR!  THEY ARE MAKING SPECIFIC REQUESTS TO AN UNKNOWN, UNNAMED "SOURCE."  (Acts 17 comes to mind, doesn't it?) 

Most ironically, they pray to make "fair and informed decisions."  Yet, the decision to adopt this mamby-pamby prayer is the most ill-informed and unfair thing this board has done in a long time. 

It is precisely this kind of thinking that has this nation under God's holy wrath.  It is precisely this kind of religious pandering that ensures ongoing "natural disasters," which are only the tip of the iceberg, friends.  I have become convinced that Almighty God, who has blessed America with so much access to His Word (the Bible) and His gospel (which is about His Son Jesus dying for our sins and rising again), is bringing this ungrateful, spoiled-rotten nation to her knees.  So-called "prayers" like this one will only make matters worse.

Don't believe God can or will take America down?  Go spend some time with King Nebuchadnezzar of ancient Babylon (Daniel 4).  Do you see him there in that cow pasture eating grass?  And when did he get relief?

"At the end of the days, I,  Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven and my reason returned to me and I blessed the Most High God, and praised and honored Him who lives forever" (v. 34).

That's a good lesson for North Topsail Beach, and Jacksonville, and North Carolina, and America.  And I believe God will do whatever it takes to remind us of this truth - "for His dominion is an everlasting dominion."

God forgive us, for the sake of Your Holy Son Jesus, please forgive us.  Amen.

Tonight's episode of ABC's "What Would You Do?" was eye opening and distrubing.  You should be able to view it here:

www.abcnews.com/wwyd

The episode featured an actress playing the part of a teen girl who was in a drug store and wanted to buy the so-called contraceptive Plan B.  This obviously implied she had had unprotected sex the night before, or perhaps that day.  The teen claimed to be embarrassed because the pharmacist behind the counter "knew her mom" and she was afraid he might tell her mom of the purchase.  So, the teen asked innocent by-standers, perfectly good strangers, to make the purchase for her.

Nearly every woman asked complied, with only a few exceptions.  When interviewed afterwards, the compliant women said things like "I wish someone would've done that for me when I was a teen, because I could have never told my mom."  Or, "It's not my place to judge her."  Or, "It's her decision."  Or, "She needed help." 

Oddly enough, none of the men she asked to make the purchase agreed to it.

This episode shows we have a long way to go in the pro-life movement in America.  For starters, this episode demonstrated:

• A need for the truth concerning contraceptives.  Christian women have fallen for the same medical duping that their non-Christian counterparts have when it comes to pill and patch "contraceptives."  We have been told they "prevent pregnancy."  What we have not been told is that the medical industry defines "pregnancy" in terms of an implanted embryo.  But a woman's egg is fertilized typically in the fallopian tubes, and then the newly conceived human baby travels down the pipe for a day or so and attaches to the lining of the uterus (implantation).  Now, if pill and patch contraceptives actually prevent conception (which they can do) that's one thing.  But friends, there is a very real risk with these so-called contraceptives of aborting a conceived child that has not yet implanted.  Christians need to get educated and stop using these potential abortifacients.  For more information, see link below. 
• A need for women to step up and consider what kind of "help" a potentially pregnant teen really needs.  Only one lady who bought Plan B for the actress posing as a teen advised her to go see a gynecologist to get some contraceptives.  That's as good as the "counsel" got!  Nobody referred her to a local crisis pregnancy care center where she could receive THE TRUTH about sex, STDs, pregnancy, contraceptives, etc.  Saddest of all, nobody refferred the teen to her mother.
• A great need to restore parents to their rightful, God-given roles as nurturers and protectors and care-takers and counselors to their OWN CHILDREN.  God help us all, from grandparents to youth ministers to nursery workers to pastors to fight tooth and nail in the power of Holy Spirit God to train parents in how to build intimate, potentially life-saving relationships with their children.  I cannot imagine a sadder thing than my daughter preferring to go to a youth minister or peer or total stranger for counsel on ANYTHING, rather than coming to her mother or me.

For the record, Plan B most definitely can cause abortions of a conceived-but-not-yet-implanted baby.  Read up on it and other potential abortifacients here: http://www.lifeissues.org/abortifacients/index.html 

God help us Christian pro-lifers to start living pro-life, rather than just giving it lip service.  As for this pastor, any couples receiving pre-marital counseling from me will be strongly advised to embrace the "full quiver" view of Scripture when it comes to children (Psalm 127), and to not use pill or patch contraception.

"This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me" (Mark 7:6).

Top story on the evening news tonight (NBC) was the inevitable repeal of the so-called "Don't Ask Don't Tell" (DADT) policy for our military.  That policy states, in essence and to my understanding, two things:

1. That the sexuality of military members should not be investigated without good reason.
2. So long as military members do not openly flaunt their homosexuality, they will not be forced out of the service.  

I was in the Marine Corps when DADT became law.  To be honest, I thought it was an inherently flawed policy to begin with, and upon reflection now, I believe it was intentionally flawed by its framers.  DADT essentially made it legal to be participating in homosexual activity while in the military, so long as it all stayed "in the closet."  The policy gave tacit approval to the gay and lesbian lifestyle.  After all, if the activity is harmful to the military, then it should not be permitted, period.  What does the activity's openness or hiddenness matter? 

Either homosexuality is harmful or it's not.  Either it's immoral or it's not.

So, hindsight being what it is, it now seems obvious that DADT was merely a precursor to its own repeal.  It "softened hearts and minds," to use military jargon, to the idea of homosexuality not being such a big deal after all.  I mean, we all knew there were practicing homosexuals serving in our `rank`s "out there somewhere."  It didn't seem to bother many people, which is precisely what DADT was designed to do - make it all seem so harmless.  

A report from the Pentagon released recently supports the repeal of DADT.  The curtain of secrecy will now be removed when it comes to military members' sexual lifestyles and choices.  I guess compared to DADT, the "open policy" is worse, but we've been on this slippery slope for decades now, haven't we?

Even if we did not have a word from God in this matter, the utter lack of logic underlying the arguments for repealing DADT is perplexing.  The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), to my knowledge, still lists adultery as a punishable crime. 

So let me get this straight (pun intended), a Marine can receive stiff punishment, including forced removal from the service, for having sex with a woman who is not his wife; but if he has sex with a man, all is well. 

What if a Marine commits adultery against his wife with a man?  Is it still adultery?  Or is it now OK because it was a homosexual relation? 

Friends, moral relativism / insanity is not pretty.  It leads to even more insanity.  If we think gay/lesbian sex is not immoral now for military members, and is not at all detrimental to military order, discipline and morale, then why do we think adultery is immoral and harmful?  Why do we draw any lines at all?  Why not allow our military men and women to live in any way they so choose?  Why bother recruiting young men of character?  What is character anyway, except some cultural construction? 

The Nazis of WWII Germany said they were recruiting and training young men of character, too, you know!

When polled a majority of military members said they supported the repeal of DADT.  Our military is a micro-cosm of our relativistic culture, so no surprises there.  These young troops are products of the governmental educational machine, which continues to `rank` out secular humanists and ethical relativists as fast as it can go. 

Oddly enough, however, a majority of those Army and Marine troops currently in Afghanistan favored keeping DADT in place!  It seems when the bullets start flying, character and morality still matter.  Relativism simply does not work in the real world, and it can never be held consistently by anyone with a modicum of common sense. 

America - welcome to this new world.  Do you feel safer now that men who want to be women are defending you?  Do the spineless Pentagon Generals who lead our troops inspire you?  In the Bible, it is a sign of God's judgment when women are fighting wars for Israel.  I wonder what it is a sign of when men who behave sexually as women are fighting our wars? 

Christian soliders, airmen, sailors, Marines and coastguardsmen, you had better rise up quickly against this groundswell of spitting in God's face!  Remind yourselves that the Lord pronounces condemnation not only on those who choose to live a homosexual lifestyle, but also on "them who give approval to those who practice them" (Romans 1:32).  Rise up and make your voices heard to your cowardly leaders.  Your first loyalty is to King Jesus, the Captain of the Lord's Army!  Rise up like Jesus and tell lost sinners of every ilk, that "unless you repent you will all likewise die" (Luke 13:3).

It is not my intent to pick on those who are living in the bondage of homosexual sin, or be mean-spirited.  It is because I love all people that I must proclaim God's truth which can set them free.  But friends, I (and those who love and treasure Christ and His Word above all) did not pick this fight.  This fight has been brought to us by politicians, special interest groups, and PC leaders intent on ruining our nation.  If you think I am being overly-dramatic, read your Bibles.  Nations that systematically promote and flaunt sin do not escape God's wrath.

No sin is truly hidden, for our God sees all (Heb 4:13).  And no sin is neutral or harmless.  Sin ruins the sinner, and will also take down entire nations. 

America, we stand on the precipice of becoming a full-fledged nation that "rages against God and His Christ" (Psalm 2:2).  That never ends well - "You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel" (Psalm 2:9).

Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen who claim the Name of Christ, don't say you were not warned.

All across the country, the yellow buses are rolling again.  Children and teens are returning to school.  The vast majority will attend state run schools, otherwise known as the public education system.  90% of Christian parents will continue this year to send their children into the public education system for 8 + hours a day.  Some of these parents truly have no option (e.g. single parents whose churches will not help them to stay home if they so desire).  Other Christian parents have simply never been challenged to think more clearly and more biblically on the issue of childhood education.  Still others are just not willing to make the lifestyle sacrifices to either home school or find solid Christian schools as alternatives.  And a few Christian parents have been called by God to send their children into the schools as missionaries.      

I applaud and pray for those teachers, administrators and students who are truly living as gospel-centered missionaries in the public schools.  But, let's face it, few and far between are these warriors.  A 15-year old who cannot explain in clear language the basic gospel message, much less strongly defend the Genesis creation account against the Darwinian onslaught, can hardly be considered a missionary.  Same goes for teachers and administrators.  And yet, I am personally aware of some teachers and students who are genuine warriors for Christ in a system that is pagan / secular.  We have some in our local church, and I pray for them often.  They are on the front lines of the war for truth in America.  God help them and churches must love and support them.

That said, please allow me to chronicle some deeply troubling trends in our nation and its school system:

• Back in June, a teacher at Southland Christian School in St. Cloud, FL was fired for having pre-marital sex.  The teacher admitted her sin when questioned by the Principal, but in no way repented.  In fact, she sued the school for letting her go.  Nevermind the application she completed to obtain the job clearly stated teachers were expected to live by the values of the Christian school, which the most casual observer would expect probably included extra-marital sex.  The teacher's attorney, Edward Gay, in his defense of his client on the Today Show, stated, "The teachers are serving a secular purpose, and therefore they are goverened by federal laws of discrimination."  Did you catch that?  Teachers serve a secular purpose.  Even teachers in a private Christian Schools?  The worldview underlying this assertion is loud and clear - EDUCATION IS SECULAR.
• President Obama's Race to the Top initiative (which is realy just President's Bush's No Child Left Behind with a new name, which is really just President Clinton's . . . you get the point) is centralizing an already far too centrally controlling system.  States now have to compete for federal funds for their schools.  And who is defining the rules of competition?  Who decides the winners?  Why of course, the federal government and the marxist education czar.  The federal government's standards must be met if a state wants money for education.  But, the federal government's standards have led our nation in the past 25 years to consistently be in the bottom 1/3 of the industrialized nations in literacy.  That's right - our kids cannot READ. 
• The NEA is one of the most marxist / socialist organizations in America.  October 1st is their official day to celebrate the communist revolt in China under Chairman Mao Zedong.  Of course, once an uproar began, NEA removed that day from its website calendar, but we're not fooled, are we?  After all, their recommended reading list for American teachers still includes the works of Saul Alinksy, a socialist who was also an avowed satanist.  Christian teachers have no business paying dues to the NEA.  Choose an alternative like the Christian Educators Association International.

Add to all this the fact that my 10-year old daughter just revealed to us that during the one semester she attended 2nd grade here in rural North Carolina, boys in the back of the bus would frequently pee (urinate for you technical types) in bottles while girls watched.  The whole system is in decay.  It is depraved and ruinous. 

Now, friends, I cannot speak for you, but the dangers of the public schools (and some private and even Christian schools) are simply too much for me to bear.  This is especially true and poignant every time I read Deuteronomy 6, Ephesians 6, so many of the Psalms and Proverbs.  I do not shy away from praying God will grant many of you Christian dads and moms the courage to begin the joyous journey of raising and educating your own children. 

For those of you who keep your children in the public system, please be reading their textbooks, countering every falsehood with biblical truth, opting your children out of so-called comprehensive sex education, or any sex education done by the state for that matter, and attending PTA meetings to fight for God's truth in this system that is in centrifugal decay.  For the glory of God and the good of your children, please do these things, at minimum!

Remember, it only takes one generation to go from lovers of God to lovers of idols (Judges 2:10).  Fight the good fight!                

The gray-haired prophet of God stood at the precipice of his life.  What would he say to God's people with his farewell address?  Would he go out "in a blaze of glory" and call down fire upon the disobedient sinners?  Would he belittle their new king?  Would he remind them of his great and mighty acts of power and deliverance?  What would be his concern as he retrospectively analyzed his life of service to God and God's people?

"Here I am.  testify against me before the Lord and before His anointed.  Whose ox have I taken?  Oy whose donkey have I taken?  Or whom have I defrauded?  Whom have I oppressed?  Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it?  Testify against me and I will restore it to you" (1 Samuel 12:3).

Would to God we actually had a few leaders in America who could end their terms in office with this statement.  No doubt some would try, and that even with a straight face!  But who among us citizens would take them seriously?

The 9th Circuit Court of Clowns has struck again.  (Seriously, California Legislature and citizens, please do your nation the favor of scrapping this whole court.  Wipe that slate clean and start anew.)  This time the Tyrants in black robes have rendered yet another foolish "judgment" (these justices are so morally relativistic one wonders if they can even use the word "judge" to describe what they do).  This time they have said the US Constitution gives Americans the right to be deceptive liars!

In a recent case, the 9th Circuit ruled that anyone can lie about military service and claim medals earned and awarded even if there is absolutely no basis for such claims in reality.  Read about it here:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38747876/ns/us_news

Having served as an Officer in the US Marine Corps, I can tell you I take great personal offense and displeasure in the lunacy of this ruling.  I recently decided it was "time" to display the medals awarded to me in what is commonly called a shadow box.  I placed the box on my den wall beneath my Dad's, who is a Marine veteran of the Vietnam War and obtained the `rank` of Sgt via a battlefield promotion.  A few years ago, I asked a friend with whom I served to ensure I had proper documentation available to justify each medal I have displayed in my shadow box.  I do not want anyone questioning whether I actually was awarded the medals in that box, not to mention if I ever wore them out in public. 

George Washingtonis on recrod saying: "Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." 

And again: "I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man."

Wonder what our 1st President and Commanding General of the Continental Army would think of some Enlightened California Judges ruling that our Nation's Founding document codifies the legal right of citizens to be brazen liars!

Oh wait, judges today do not care much what the actual Framers of the nation and its constitution thought or meant by what they wrote.  I mean, the Framers meant whatever the 9th Circus Court says they meant, right?  And clearly when writing the 1st Amendment, the Framers meant to secure the rights of citizens to use deception whenever it suits them.

Imagine a nation where you can no longer trust your neighbor's word.  Imagine a culture where you must verify in writing every business transaction because deception is rampant.  Imagine a nation where business leaders and government leaders and church leaders and school officials will lie to you at the drop of a hat.  Imagine an America devoid of "the most enviable of all titles."  Imagine a country with no honest men and women.  Imagine homes where children are encouraged to lie and where parents believe the word of their 8 year old over the word of adult teachers or pastors or family members.  Imagine a world where Christian parents lie to their children at Christmas, Easter and every time they lose a tooth but then later in life try to convince the children that lying violates God's law and ruins people and a society. 

Imagine America.  Imagine, America.  Imagine.

"You shall not bear false witness" (Exodus 20:16).

God forgive us.  "In wrath remember mercy."  We are a nation of codified rebels against Your character and Law.  Lord please grant to us more Samuels, for the glory and greatness of Your name.  Remind us liars of our drastic need for the Savior, Jesus, the One who said, "I am the truth."  Amen.