First of all, let’s make it clear that this is not a commercial for Nike. In fact you can wear almost any kind of footwear and take advantage of the ideas discussed here. However, as the phrase tells us, there are times when you just have to set aside personal hang ups, fears and lack of confidence and quit waiting for someone else to get things done. In the Richmond area this weekend we saw the folks that pulled off the Richmond Tea Party put together an event that attracted up to two thousand people who love their country and are looking to see how they can help.

Most of these people were either never politically active or had dropped out of the effort sometime in years past. They were not professional organizers, political, community or otherwise. Yet they pulled together representatives from around fifteen organizations, attract a couple thousand people and television coverage. They filled the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds with organizational displays, food vendors, games for the children and even a couple of dunking booths for the older children.

These average citizens found themselves pulled form their yard work, honey do lists, even time from their jobs and businesses. What pulled them away from the more mundane tasks that occupy most of us? Most likely it was the same thing that thing that caused you to begin reading this post… a recognition that things are not right in our wonderful country, and a desire to set them so.

The problem most Americans have today is that they will take part in events and programs that have been established for them. How often have you heard the phrase, “somebody should do something about that”? It’s a common malady among those of us who have been conditioned and encouraged to look to government programs to do things for us. They like it that way as it gives the statists control over our attention and direction.

This is precisely what these good organizers see as wrong with our country. Our government was established under the concept they its’ power was derived from the people and was the servant of the people. This clearly is no longer the case. The courts, along with the passive and complicit congress have long since stopped listening to the citizens. Often the will of the people is not only ignored, but the elites running government actually take us in exactly the opposite direction.

So waiting for a government program to fix our nations’ ills is like waiting for a thunderstorm in the Sahara… it is not going to happen. These people, and thousands of tea party organizers throughout the country, have decided to look in the mirror to see who will answer the call and get the job done.

If you have the same frustrations as many of us who believe in the United States of America and see the results of the sacrifices of our forefathers coming to naught, look up the people in your area trying to organize such events and spread the word. If you can’t find anyone… be one. It’s an adventure you will find tiring and exhilarating.

Oh the other hand, if you still don’t think you want get involved, consider James 2:20 which tells us “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” The same applies to concern about your friends, neighbors or your country.

Take the first steps. Don’t worry about the results. They are not in your hands anyway. Whatever the results, if you give it your best… even if you don’t accomplish everything you want, at least you can tell your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews that you fought the good fight and did not just let our country go down the tubes. Also keep in mind the fact that the world is run by those who show up. Don’t let everything up to others who may not share your values and concerns.

There are almost as many answers to this question of what it will take to the our country back on track as there are people who try to answer it. There is an answer that has worked in the past but is being practiced by far to few. II Chronicles 7:14 tells us, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Many of us, myself included, spend far too much time plotting, scheming and complaining and not enough following this advice.

Christians have had a hand in the creation of the mess as we tend to stay wrapped up in our own little world, not actively working to make our country a better place to live for everyone. The blame is not ours alone, but we can be the ones to set things straight. The founding fathers recognized the need for divine guidance and protection as they broke away from Great Britain to start a new nation based on rights given by our creator rather than granted by a monarch.

The Declaration of Independence declares: “We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States...”

This past Sunday my pastor talked about this very thing. He commented that, “We can't expect our land to be different if we aren't going to be different.” We've all tried complaining. Some of us have tried getting involved in the political system. Some have tried prayer.

So what can me change? I have a humble suggestion for us to consider. Why don't we consider dropping the first and combining the other two actions. We are commanded to pray for our country and our leaders. But that is not enough. Prayer is an expression of faith but James 2:17 tells us “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Actions work in two ways. One is to start doing something neglected in the past. The other is to stop doing something we have been doing. We don't like to think about the “turn from their wicked ways” part too much. However recently we've seen “secret sins” come back to both Senator John Ensign and Governor Mark Sanford. Everyone thought they were great men destined for even bigger things, but there was a cancer in their lives that brought them down.

The recent tragedy of football great Steve McNair showed that results of going our own way can be deadly. As a friend of mine commented at the time, “You put yourself somewhere you shouldn't be, this is the kind of stuff that happens.” While we may not be doing these specific things, each of us may have areas of our lives where we have gone along with the crowd where we shouldn't have. True, none of us are perfect, but if we expect divine blessing on our efforts, can we continue to turn a blind eye to things we know are not right?

This two prong approach has got to be better than any one alone. For those who have been doing both, congratulations, you get it! Don't get complacent. Just keep on keeping on. For those of us who have been a little lax in one one, or both areas, it's time to get to pick up the pace. Our country is on a downhill slide... and picking up speed. It's time to fight the battle in the streets and on our knees.

One more thing, it is up to us. It's not up to Barack Obama. It's not up to Barney Frank. It's not up to Nancy Pelosi. It's not up to Harry Reid. The verse says “my people”. That is those who read and understand the word of the creator are responsible. The others have no basis of understanding, they don't know any better than what they are doing. So let us work together as brothers and sisters, recognizing that we have access to all the power of the universe... if only we put ourselves in a position to use it.


For some prayer suggestions, check out http://www.politicalchristian.org/pray.html .

Way too early on the morning of July 4, I rode into our nations capitol with a bus load of patriots from Chester VA. As we passed the Pentagon and followed the Southwest Freeway across the bridge into Washingon DC, passing the Jefferson Memorial, I heard a comment that it used to be exciting coming into the city and visit the famous landmarks, but now it was depressing. It seems the government buildings and the city itself no longer represented the beacon of freedom we heard about as we grew up, but had become a symbol of oppression and a drain on the American people.

Several thousand people from all over the country gathered in Upper Senate Park in the shadow of the halls of congress. Speakers came from all over he country as well and said some mighty fine things. However, what they said was not nearly as important as the fact that we were standing together on a beautiful summer day, within stones throw of the Capitol (to my knowledge no physical stones were thrown), meeting new friends, fellow patriots, from about twenty to twenty five different states.

We had a great time encouraging each other and just enjoying the company of people who love their country. I'm sure this was the case at every other party around America the Beautiful. I'm sure everyone left inspired by new ideas and with a fresh enthusiasm to continue the fight to preserve our country.

The test of the experience will be rolling out of bed Monday morning, Tuesday morning and every other day that follows. We have our daily lives, most of them so full of stuff that it is easy to forget the big picture of what needs to be done. Work is certainly important. Families are important. Our church and communities are important as well.

It's easy to loose sight of the big picture – the big problems facing our country when we have twenty minutes to get dinner together before Billy's Little League Game, Mary's dance lesson or a church committee meeting. It's easy to believe what many tell us: that one person can't make much of a difference or that someone else will take care of the problem... or that the problems just cannot be solved.

Lies, they are all lies, every one of them! Let's start with the first one... that you can't make a difference. If you attended any of the tea parties, you were with any where from several hundred to several thousand people who believe pretty much the same things you believe. You are not alone! Samuel Adams told us, "It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brush fires of freedom in the minds of men."

Someone else may NOT fix the problem. Would you be willing to bet the future of your children and grandchildren on the actions of someone else you may neither know nor influence? As I've said before, to all your friends, neighbors and acquaintances, you ARE someone else. If you can look in the mirror and tell yourself that you are willing to let the future of this great country up to the the actions and dedication of other people, perhaps this fight is not for you. The fact that you are reading this, gives me optimism that this is not the case.

As far as problems not being solvable... we are Americans! Our fathers and grandfathers chased tyrants from Europe and Japan. Our scientists and engineers made it possible for men to walk on the moon. Our medical system is finding cures for diseases that used to kill millions. When the naysayers tell us that problems cannot be solved, all we hear is that we have problems and have just not found the solution yet.

Even if you did not get to participate in this July Forth outpouring of support for our country, take heart because of those who did. There are millions of us and we will only be denied if we loose heart and permit it. Of course we're in for some rocky roads ahead, but consider the colonists taking on the strongest economic and military power of their time... and they won! But not without cost. If we persist, if we don't loose heart, if we hang together, we will win too.

Remember what Winston Churchill told the Harrow School in October of 1941, an extremely bleak time in British history with the blitz going on at home and the advancing German army abroad, “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” Good advice then, and good advice now.



See what others say about about defending your freedoms at http://www.politicalchristian.org/quotes.html .

Sure the people of California voted on the issue... TWICE! From the left coast even. And yet, the issue is not settled. The courts are still sticking their nose into the peoples business one more time, looking for ways to impose their will on the fruits, nuts and flakes along our western coast. Fortunately there are people who are able and willing to stand in the gap and defend what is right against against the best the secular humanists have to throw at them.

San Francisco, CA – Today Liberty Counsel is filing a motion to intervene in the recent lawsuit against California’s Marriage Amendment (Prop 8). Attorney David Boies and former Solicitor General Ted Olson filed a federal lawsuit against California’s marriage amendment, claiming that it violates the U.S. Constitution. Liberty Counsel is representing the Campaign for California Families (Campaign).

Shortly after the amendment passed in November, three lawsuits were filed at the California Supreme Court by same-sex marriage advocates, also claiming that Prop 8 violates the state constitution. In May, the California Supreme Court upheld Prop 8, affirming the constitutional amendment that defines marriage as only the union of one man and one woman. This new lawsuit now claims that the marriage amendment violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

Liberty Counsel has represented the Campaign in the defense of marriage in California for more than five years, arguing at the state trial and appellate court and the California Supreme Court. Liberty Counsel also represented the Campaign as Intervenor and argued in federal district and appellate courts in defense of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. The federal courts threw out the challenge to the federal DOMA. Now California marriage laws are again under attack. Since Attorney General Jerry Brown is not likely to vigorously defend California’s marriage laws, Liberty Counsel has requested to once again intervene on behalf of the Campaign to defend the marriage amendment.

Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: “The battle for marriage continues in California. Redefining marriage to include same-sex unions would undermine marriage and the family and would have significant negative social consequences. The United States Supreme Court has previously hinted that the U.S. Constitution does not grant a right for same-sex couples to marry. Common sense and a quick read of the Constitution say there is no such right to same-sex marriage.”

# # #

Liberty Counsel is one of several groups of attorneys gathered to help people stand against an overreaching government. Two others that come to mind are The Rutherford Institute and the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).

My wife and I depended heavily on the helpful advice we received from ACLJ when we battled the local school district and their affinity for a local group called the Richmond Organization for Sexual Minority Youth... and we won! The point of all this is that we will most likely be facing ever increasing challenges from a government that neither shares nor respects the values that made this country great.

These people are here to help us fight the good fight. While we are never alone when we are doing the right thing, having the advice and help of any of these organizations may make all the difference in the world. Don't be afraid to contact them and don't just sit on the sidelines when you see something is wrong. Just remember: the harder the battle, the sweeter the victory.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” So says one of the most important documents in the history of the United States of America: the Declaration of Independence. The realization of these rights was the whole point of the bloody struggle to break free from the control of the British crown that saw itself as the originator and dispenser of rights to the people, both at home and in the colonies.

The signers of this document pledged “our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” to establishing a government in the new land where these rights to life, liberty and so much more were recognized. Once free of the oppressive monarch, they set about to create a system where the people were the ultimate authority and government answered to its employers: the citizens.

They laboriously created a constitutional plan where three branches were supposed to balance each other so no one reigned supreme. They did this by limiting the reach of the legislative, executive and judicial branches to restrain dictatorial rule. So concerned were some of the leaders immediately following the presentation of the document that it did not sufficiently restrain the power of the central government that its ratification by all the states could not have been accomplished without the promise of additional guarantees of individual freedoms and restraints on governmental power. Hence the first ten amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, quickly followed acceptance of the original document.

Many today believe they have the rights of free speech, religion, personal protection through firearms because of these amendments. In reality, every human being has these rights, because they were bought into being by a loving creator who wants to see each one of us live and prosper to the best of our abilities. Then why was it necessary to codify them in the constitution? The answer is the same as for any other provision of the constitution, and that is so the government would recognize the limits of its power.

If we were to take the approach that the piece of paper granted us these rights, we would be in the precarious position of leaving them up to what ever men, legislative body or judiciary panel would decide to give us. This would return us to the plight of the colonists under King George. Our creator created us to be free and governments that fail to recognize these rights are operating in violation of what the founding fathers called “natural law”, which was the law that was self evident to anyone with the Christian background of these men.

Why is this important? If these rights are unalienable as our founders believed, they are existent apart from any decree from DC. On the other hand, if they come from men, they can be taken away by men. We then have no recourse if these men (or women) decide that we have few or none of the rights laid out by our forefathers. Worse yet, by doing this, we move from being citizens in charge of our government to being its subjects.

This is the price the secular humanists are willing to pay to eliminate the Christian influence from our great country. Their fear of the absolute moral teaching coming from the Word of God leads them to accept enslavement to whims of leaders, ultimately a much more heavy handed control, but without the moral measurement of the ten commandments.

This is the underlying basis of the entire culture war in our country... but it isn't really cultural, it is spiritual.

It’s easy to watch the news and get frustrated as we see our freedoms restricted, one by one. Then we see the DC elites making more plans for more things to do with our grandchildren’s money. And on top of that, we see people who hold traditional American values are called threats to the government and potential domestic terrorists. It’s enough to make you wonder when someone is going to do something about it.

I have been told that God doesn’t make junk and everyone of God’s children is a somebody. Hmmmmm. Usually what people mean when they think somebody should do something, is that they really mean somebody else should do something. Part of this mindset is that our society is one of many spectators and few actors. We watch our favorite ball teams or race drivers go out and do their thing for obscene amounts of money. We cheer for them as if their victories somehow enhanced the lives of ourselves and our families. We support some who run for office… sometimes we may even work with one of their campaigns. At best, though, most of us just hang around the periphery of the action.

We do this because somewhere deep inside we’ve been conditioned to believe that it is our lot in life to be one of the masses while the changes in the world come about because of big people, special people… somebody else.

Here is a radical thought: to your neighbor down the street, you are somebody else. To your high school classmates, you are somebody else. To the people you work with, you are somebody else. To the people in your church, you are somebody else. I hope you are starting to get the picture.

Everyone is looking to “somebody else” to solve their problem. Look at the helpless masses who voted for Barack Hussein Obama. They thought he was going to fix every aspect of their drab, lifeless existence… they even thought he was going to buy them a car and pay their mortgage. They may have been right about this in some instances… but he will never be able to give them meaning.

We look at men with names like Washington, Madison, Henry, Adams, Franklin and Jefferson and see them as bigger than life. Without diminishing the magnitude of their contribution to the founding of our great country, I believe you will agree that these farmers, printers lawyers and who knows what else, were men… mere mortals like the rest of us. None could walk on water or leap tall buildings in a single bound. Although they were all intelligent and successful men, not one possessed super human skills or abilities. Their DNA was pretty much standard human being stuff. They were pretty much like you and me.

They all believed in the necessity of living in freedom. Most of us also understand the human need to be free as well. The difference between these men and many other capable colonists, was that they carried these beliefs one step beyond just talking about them. They acted on them. They could have met behind closed doors for twenty years, complaining about the wrongs visited on them by the British monarch… and nothing would have changed, except for a few more ulcers amongst the assembly.

These were ordinary men who did extraordinary things. They lived at a critical point in the history of the world and helped birth the greatest nation on earth. Like them, each of us was born into this critical period in the history of our country and the world. Understanding the sovereignty of God, we need to consider that each of us, like Esther, was placed on this earth for “such a time as this”.

You might argue that you are just one person, and that one person going against the trends of society has little chance of success. This is true… on a human level. We need to keep in mind that even Moses, who had the promise of God’s power to sustain him, needed the have his brother Aaron by his side to have the confidence to approach Pharoah. It’s OK to have some feelings of inadequacy, because by ourselves, we are inadequate, and it helps us realize our dependence on divine guidance and support just like our founding fathers.

This is why we need to seek out others of similar mind. They may be a group at your church, possibly a patriot or tea party group. Wherever you look, there will be people to work with. Find a group you are comfortable with. Meet with them, and, if no one else does it, be sure they don’t just sit around and belly ache. Take it upon yourself, if necessary, to be sure every one goes home with some kind of action item. It could be as simple as making a phone call, or writing letter to the editor or to politicians. Nothing happens until somebody does something.

When you start to move forward and make progress, people will say you are trying to impose your religion on them. It is they who are trying to impose their secular, statist religion on everyone. Patrick Henry, one of the driving forces of the first ten amendments to our constitution that we call the Bill of Rights, wrote, “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ! For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom to worship here. There is absolutely no reason to be ashamed or defensive!

Contrary to secularist propaganda - as we are seeing in Washington - the Christians are not the ones seeking to control every aspect of our lives. We are the ones who offer true freedom, both now and forever. We need to be the ones to speak up to a leader who has hardened his heart, much like Pharoah. Will you be part of this move for freedom, or will you hide in the bullrushes and watch?

There has been a lot of talk about Barack Hussein Obama’s associate justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor and her potential performance on the supreme court. Many of us have all sorts of reasons to object to her helping make the far reaching decisions in this position. We now have some unexpected allies in working to shoot down this nomination. It is a delicious bit or irony that this Queen of Quotas, as some have called her, is now criticized by the politically correct anti-religionists who are now fussing about her as addition to the Roman Catholic majority on the court.

Never mind that the Catholics on the court do not vote as a block. Some are pro-life, some are pro-death. The public religious affiliation of the men (and women) in black is not a good indicator of how they will rule on any case. Today I heard some pusher of identity politics ranting about the need for a Muslim or an atheist on the court. By their rulings, I think we have at least one of the latter… if not more. I personally would like to see the addition of a Baptist and a Pentecostal to liven the mix but these are not constitutional qualifications.

If we are going to start adding additional qualifications beyond a good grasp of the law and its application, we have to start looking into areas that are officially none of the governments business. Will we next need to add a homosexual seat or an unwed mother seat. How about someone to represent the feelings of child molesters. If an empathetic court is the goal, this may very well be the only way to achieve it.

We may even need to add an associate justice who is vertically challenged in order to give the court an understanding of the needs of this underrepresented minority. Taking into account who is before the bar of justice and the impact of the rulings on the people involved rather than looking to the law for a decision makes us all subject to the transitory whims and irrational prejudices of those sitting in judgment.

My reading of the constitution tells me this just should not be. Our representatives in Washington need to receive a backbone transplant and proudly embrace membership in the “Party of NO!” when presented with pure foolishness… or find another line of work. They say “pick your fights”, which I hear as back up and roll over if you don’t have the stomach for the conflict. Well, win or loose, if you stand for what is right, you still accomplish something. Unfortunately many don’t understand the power that may be behind them if they just step out and try to do the right thing.

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of attending a We Surround Them/912 meeting with about 70 other concerned citizens. Last week, I spent the evening with about 20 others in a similar meeting. Tonight about 30 more people gathered to in a similar group. What is particularly encouraging, is that most of these people were either new to involvement in public affairs or were coming back after a lengthy hiatus.

The tea parties provided the catalyst to bring them back. The crowds provided the push that let them know they were not alone. Most people are not constitutionally suited to standing against the power of the federal government alone. We cheered the Chinese student staring down the tanks in Tiananmen Square, but tend to shy away from confrontation ourselves. With a group of like minded citizens, the patriots can become warriors.

I was amazed by the intensity of the emotional display. People are concerned about their country. They don’t like where it is headed. They are concerned about the world they will be leaving to their children and grand children. They are looking for ways to channel these feelings and energy.

Members of two of these groups combined to visit local Congressional and Senate offices to present a Petition for Redress of Grievances. These petitions outlined various actions by the federal government that, by almost any reasonable interpretation, were clearly unconstitutional. It must have been a bit of fun to be part of the group of about 25 as the filed into the local legislative offices with video and still cameras. One aide did a great deer in the headlights impression - but I don’t think he was acting, two aides welcomed them in and held a pleasant conversation and one office only showed them a shaken receptionist hiding behind her bullet proof glass shield.

In all cases, it was obvious they were not accustomed to dealing with the public who actually expected them to change the way Washington does business. Another thing that was obvious was that it is necessary to keep up the contact and the pressure. Even the good guys need the encouragement and supervision of their constituents. Lobbyist are continuously in their face… the same should hold true for their constituents… their real employers.

This is just one way citizens can get involved. More needs to to be lined up to keep these good folks involved in the process and get the message across to those who believe they rule from a distance. There is a staggering amount of passion and energy looking to get involved in the process of changing our country back to the free society it was in years past.

Just as many cheered the Chinese student, many also cheered the priests, pastors, and everyday citizens who faced arrest while protesting the desecration of the Notre Dame graduation ceremony. They cheered, but did not take part… myself included. My excuse was the 600 or so mile drive to South Bend. The question I have to answer as do all other Christians and others who say they hold values dear, is that, if the event were in my city, would I have faced arrest for a good cause, or would I have backed away because I did not want a police record. Everyone who loves their country has to consider this question.

The founding fathers understood that by signing the Declaration of Independence, if they failed, they would be facing a hangman’s noose. Even in victory, many faced financial ruin, loss of their homes and loss of family members. Since that time, countless service men and women have given their lives preserving the freedom that people like Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Adams and Henry gave us. So many that we have set aside a day, Memorial Day, to remember and honor their sacrifices.

What sacrifices are we, both individually and collectively, willing to make to leave the country and world a better place for our children and grandchildren? With increasing restrictions placed on ever more areas of our lives, and more of our resources being taken to fund irrational and often immoral schemes, will we stand up and say “No more!” or will we sit, quietly complaining, as our country hurtles toward the “eve of destruction” as Barry McGuire would call it. In answering this question, we would do well to remember the words of James Madison, “Resistance to tyranny is service to God.”

On the third of August, 1492 Christopher Columbus left Spain leading an expedition consisting of three ships of brave adventurers. He had an idea where he was going, but he couldn't be certain. His crew knew even less. But they pressed on. On October 11, while off the southeastern coast of North America, he spotted the Caribbean islands. While not the land they were looking for, their mission was a success.

After centuries of informal and state celebrations, Columbus Day became a federal holiday in 1970. It was a day to celebrate country, history and the spirit of adventure. Italian-Americans rejoiced in their heritage. Recently the holiday has fallen into disfavor among the academic elites and politically correct. Brown University has become the latest institution of supposedly higher learning to banish this American tradition to the dust bin of history.

At the request of the student body, the faculty voted to replace the Columbus Day recognition with a Fall Weekend celebration. One has to wonder where these students got the information on which they based their righteous indignation. Some would see the possibility of manipulation of these students trying to find their way on their own for the first time in their lives.

The historical revisionists have now chosen to emphasize some of the things that may have gone on between Columbus and the native Americans over the magnitude of his accomplishment. One web site explains this thinking by telling us it “rejects the celebration of Christopher Columbus and his legacy of domination, oppression, and colonialism. We also reject historical misconceptions regarding Columbus and his 'discovery' of the Americas.” He is called a savage and castigated as a slave trader.

What is interesting is that many of the most vocal opponents of Columbus and his discovery of the new world have long ago expressed deep admiration for revolutionary butcher Che Guevara. The same people who are loudly critical of Columbus alleged brutality admire the very same qualities in the communist guerrilla. Guevara's victims are well documented, and I've never met one of his fans that will argue that he was not a ruthless killer.

It looks like it's not the action these people really object to. Could it be that one resulted in the birth of the greatest free nation on earth, based on Christian values and the other was trying to tear down certain levels of freedom and substitute the iron hand of communism? How revealing is this?

Nothing takes place in a vacuum. Are the students (and faculty) rejecting Columbus because of his supposed deeds, or because of what he represents: the spread of western civilization – the benefits of which they all enjoy? Do these same people so admire Che because he lived the life of a terrorist, killing innocent people, or because he was trying to tear down western civilization? The next time you see a kid with his cool Che Guevara t-shirt, you may want to ask him that.

Christopher Columbus wasn't perfect, but he was a man who had the courage to go where no European had gone before. He was the James Kirk of his day. He was one of leaders in the creation of a civilization that was to be the lighthouse to world. Those who would argue with this must think that the idyllic Middle Ages were the peak of man's existence with their bleaker living conditions and significantly shorter life spans. Surely they could not be looking at communist regimes that killed millions of people around the world to maintain their dictatorial power, only to ultimately fail anyway, as the model we should be working toward, along with the likes of Guevara. Unfortunately many of them do!

A few days ago a Vietnamese born American methodically killed more than a dozen people, then himself. What would make this man act on impulses many have, but never follow? The fact that he killed himself let's us know he had nothing in his life to keep him going. That he killed all the innocent people showed the rage and hatred in his heart. What brings a person to the point where they think they have nothing to live for and want to inflict as much pain as possible on the way out? The man had lost all hope of better days.

While campaigning, Barack H. Obama talked incessantly and ambiguously, about hope and the changes he wanted that would bring this hope to the masses. Jiverly Voong did not participate in the hope many experienced as the smooth talking new president moved into the White House. Apparently he did not expect to either. He lost his job at IBM, he couldn't speak the language well. What was he to do... his life was over, he thought.

The fact is the President is not to blame. It is true that he sold, and many people bought, the idea that hope could come from a man with more promises than Hershey has kisses. These people bought into the idea that their lives would be made complete by a beneficent government under the command of their would-be Messiah. Jiverly Voong did not share this hope. The fact is, had he shared it this hope, and this is all he had, sooner or later he would have come face to face with the same disappointment, frustration and depression that brought him to the end of his life. Was it his inability to fit into the government program designed to at least make him feel like he was succeeding? Or was it that that the Big Brother federal government operations were incapable of meeting this man's needs.

While attempting to induce citizens as well as aliens, legal and otherwise, to place their confidence in our government's good will and ability to see us through our current malaise, this government is also working to limit the effectiveness of faith based organizations through the tax code and various, less visible, regulations. It appears that throughout this administration, engineering a shift in mindset and loyalties is more important than solving problems. The President is not alone in this effort. This has been the aim of many in his party for years... only now they have the votes to push it through, aided and abetted by some members of the other party who are embarrassed by the social conservative values and wish they would go away.

This presents a truly dangerous situation for our country as they are attempting to relegate the only ones who can help people find real hope to an hour time slot on Sunday mornings. If Mr. Voong had found this hope, would he have slaughtered thirteen innocent people as they were working toward better days of their own through US citizenship? Would he have inflicted, what is possibly the greatest evil the town of Binghamton, NY has ever seen? Of course not, as he would have seen the better days ahead for himself in this life and the next.

If someone could have gotten through to him with the message contained in 1 Timothy 4:10, “...we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe” surely his life and the lives of thirteen other people... along with their families, would have been different. This is the hope our government is looking to take from people and in it's place, give them faith in a fallible state run by imperfect, and often incompetent, men and women.

We too are imperfect and sometimes not up to the task of pointing the people to the one who has neither of these shortcomings. We are not the hope, we are just trying to share this hope with others who need it. While we work with whatever circumstances we have, it is our duty to kick open closing doors so as to prevent as many of the Jiverly Voongs of this world from destroying themselves and others created for a full life on this earth. And while doing this, still sharing the hope that no government can provide.

As we dig deeper into the governments' suspicions of American citizens, we see the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) was not the only body looking askance at our everyday activities. We see another coming from the cradle of our liberty, Virginia! In a manual titled “Terrorism & Security Awareness Orientation for State Employees” the public servants were told that along with racist and hate groups, psychopated animal rights advocates and street gangs they should be watchful of people who stood up for property rights and religious extremists. No made mention of Islamofascists... just religions in general. I guess they thought, or hoped others would think, that followers of Jerry Falwell or Pat Robertson were just as likely to kill their neighbors in large numbers as those trained in Al Qaeda camps in the mountains of Afghanistan.

In a further indication that they are grasping at straws and don't really know how to identify the bad guys, state employees were told to watch for people carrying such dangerous weapons as: cameras, small tape recorders, maps, notebooks, SCUBA gear and disguises. Now, other than the disguises, it sounds like many of us going on vacation. Anyone who as been to the capitol that Mr. Jefferson designed in Richmond or any of the other historic buildings and monuments knows that some of these things are almost obligatory for tourists walking the city streets. Then they have the gall to watch for groups that want to “influence government or social policy”... as if anyone of would want to do that. Oh yes, that's what political parties, corporations and public service groups do all the time.

Back in the days of the Clinton Administration, the Phoenix office of the FBI issued a flier called “Freedom in the 21st Century” which told police to watch for such depravity as defending our constitution against the US government and the UN or not being particularly social.

In fairness to law enforcement, there is usually a pattern of behavior that accompanies criminal or terrorist actions. The only problem is that effective terrorists blend into their surroundings and usually don't call attention to themselves by open opposition to the system.

It appears that we have those in government grouping citizens just looking to be left alone with those who want to destroy our country. Stopping terrorists is their job... protecting themselves against the people they hurt is something they do for survival. Rather than look into why people are upset, they are looking to keep an eye on those who protest. It is odd that when the hated George Bush was in office, dissent was patriotic, now it is suspect. We have a government that is in self preservation mode because they realize people are waking up to the disappearance of our God given rights and our country.

The point of all this is that we are moving further from the freedom and greatness that our country once was. People don't trust the government, the government doesn't trust the people. As Christians, we have been told to "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." and most of us try to do this. However, because our primary loyalties are to our God, rather than Washington, we are looked on with suspicion. Is it possible for any of us find ourselves in the position of Danial, or Shadrach, Meshach and Abedego as the increasingly secular government makes more and more demands for our resources and our loyalty?

We are living in interesting times... and where does it say we are exempt from struggles and hardships just because we are Americans? Consider the colonial soldiers who spent the brutal winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge with General Washington. They lacked adequate food, clothing and shelter... most of us haven't begun to be worthy of their sacrifice.

Need I remind anyone of the price the signers of the Declaration of Independence paid to give us the freedoms we see evaporating day after day? Some died, some lost loved ones, many were bankrupted. There is a price for standing up for what is right. Thomas Jefferson once said "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God" Let's hope we do not find ourselves in this position... but we need to be prepared if we do.

One of our great historical icons has now become a badge of dishonor to the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC). The flag created by Colonel Christopher Gadsden and used by the colonists prior to the adoption of the stars and stripes is now considered to be a sign of a possible domestic terrorist. Never mind that many naval personnel have such a sticker on their cars. It is also revered by many who have an appreciation for American history.

MIAC compiled the report to help law enforcement personnel identify persons who may need watching to protect their citizens from terror attacks. They have decided the modern militia movement is sufficient threat to distract police and investigators from following up on those who have sworn to destroy our country.

Who else is considered troublesome? People who voted for or promoted third party candidates like Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin or Bob Barr. People who are standing up against illegal immigration or may be supportive of our constitution. People who are concerned about the federal reserve system. People who are looking to keep their guns in the face of potential federal moves to restrict second amendment freedoms.

If any of these fit you, it's time to be concerned. Missouri is middle America... not Governor Schwarzenegger's land of fruits, nuts and flakes. Sure we have crazies running around, but the inability to draw a more precise picture shows perhaps the internalized prejudices of the group or a complete misunderstanding of our American heritage, culture and values.

Even if those concerns are not your hot button issues, but you have the audacity to believe we should not condone the killing of babies or even if you just take your relationship with God seriously with something as innocuous as the “My Boss Is A Jewish Carpenter” bumper sticker, you could be in the governments cross hairs. They can't seem to distinguish between the white supremacist Christian Identity movement which raises some legitimate concerns and the prayer warriors at your local church.

The primary things we Christians need to take away from this report is that not only are we not understood by the people now in charge of our society, but in some quarters there is actual hostility and a desire to make Christians look as bad as AIG executives. So... do we pull back, hide and keep our mouths shut as some would like? What would be the result of this cowardly posture? For one thing, we would not be doing our job of being salt and light in a world full of darkness. Then, even more important, many others would live life without the witness to the truth that could change them forever.

There are already rumblings that the charitable tax deduction may be going away and federal funding for anything remotely connected with God is quickly drying up. Our environment is quickly changing. We have decisions to make. So back to the question, do we pull back, hide and keep our mouths shut or do we continue doing what we know is right? These times appear to be requiring focus and courage. The people in Washington and our state capitols would like us to quietly fade into the background. Will we?

Even though we have no intention of blowing up buildings or poisoning water supplies – and the left knows it, dedicated Christians, even law abiding one, do pose a threat because our loyalties lie far from the oval office... no matter who sits in it. Just as Detrick Bonhoeffer spoke the truth in Nazi Germany, we too are called to speak the truth today. We need to be prepared for the time when all or part of Christian teaching may be officially condemned. This may seem far fetched, but just over our northern border, Canadian pastors have been charged with hate crimes for preaching that homosexuality is a sin. Now is the time to decide our course of action and not wait until opposition materializes.

We need to look back into the history that many would love to have us forget and hear the words of Patrick Henry when people tried to shout him down with cries of “Treason”. He responded with “If this be treason, make the most of it!” What will our answer be?

We can thank the Lord, even if we can't thank our government that two former US Border Patrol Agents are back with their families. We also have to thank the public that kept up the pressure so finally the White House did a reasonable facsimile of the right thing.

Although they are still under house arrest wearing ankle bracelets, they are out of solitary confinement. They are away from the perils of prison but they are still not free to speak. Once the month long thumb twiddle leading up to their release is complete, we can hope that they will be permitted to return to a normal life.

We can also pray for their safety and the safety of their families as there are elements in our society that do not honor border patrol agents who do their job with integrity. Unfortunately, some of these elements appear to be in our own government. We have seen the Federal Prosecutor going out of his way to convince the media that these two men were more of a danger than the drug dealer they shot. In my humble, but accurate, opinion, prosecutors and other government officials who penalize these front-line warriors for doing their job and hand cuff them in their pursuit of our safety are a far greater hazard then anything these gentleman could be accused of doing.

Have we really entered the time predicted in the Bible when evil is called good and good, evil? It appears so, but we need to look into the background of the problem. Across the border, the drug lords are exerting more and more influence through bribery and intimidation. The Mexican government is fighting back... but they do not appear to be winning. It also appears that through fear and intimidation or bribery, the Mexican citizens themselves are protesting the crackdown on the border outlaws.

Back on our side of the Rio Grande, we see increasing violence from an increasingly brazen criminal army. Ranchers who defend themselves and their property are called into court. As with some of our trade agreements, it seems that the welfare of our citizens is secondary to some larger agenda. An agenda that is, perhaps, paid for by people with resources far above amounts our poor taxpayers can afford. Could this be a reflection or extension of activities on the southern side of our border?

When Phoenix has the second highest kidnapping toll in the world, those who would try to tell us that Mexico's problems are not spilling over into our country have absolutely no credibility with this writer. One must wonder if the media types pushing this view have to be seen as incompetent or downright corrupt.

For some time, many in our country have been trying to push Christian values further into the background. The more they succeed, the more of this lawless behavior expands, comes to light and is accepted. No matter how much they cry otherwise, it is for the good of all that Christians provide their salt and light in public affairs. It is not just for our own comfort and benefit but for the good of those around us. We saw Jesus as our example... he came to meet our needs, not his own benefit.

We need to get over the idea that public involvement is all about us. Standing up against evil in the public forum is no less honorable than responding cries for help from a rapists victim. For those who believe both are wrong... may God bless them and let us all hope we never have to depend on them. For the rest of us, we need to look at ourselves to see if we are going around lighting candles or merely cursing the darkness.