We live in a troubled world with the Covid19 virus. On top of a pandemic, riots, social and racial unrest, violence, breakdown of the family, abortion, geronticide, fear of meeting for church services, domestic terrorism, the attempt to erase our history and values, mobs of young people trained in violence, hatred, and greed all contribute to the chaos. It’s easy to get discouraged. Every day there are news stories which come cascading out like a waterfall threatening to drown us. Things are happening so fast that yesterdays news might as well be last year’s news. The cycle is relentless with YouTube videos of news, pastors, prophets, and radio hosts. The next story might bring relief, the next story might bring truth, the next story might justify my belief, the story might ease my anxiety, the radio host might prove what I want the world to know and believe.

I’d like to scream what I believe from the mountaintops, but the mainstream media oozes out just enough fear and threat to paralyze me. I’m often silent and fearful and don’t want to rock anyone’s boat. The backlash on social media, my blog, or in person might be difficult. Those who don’t hold the same views on anything—it could be racial relations or the virus or world issues, it doesn’t matter. If you don’t agree with that narrative, you are immediately called a racist, selfish, or completely ignorant. Freedom of speech seems to be completely gone. My close writer friends and I are aware of this and discuss the need to be bold and courageous. If I go one step further outside this circle, into the greater community of Christian based writers, I am hearing things that make me sad. There seems to be a line crossed where many take a stand on issues with a pious, “this is what Jesus would do”  or “this is the more loving way,” type of attitude. Many say those who stand for traditional values are low informed, self-righteous ignorants and they are the enlightened ones.

After I complain about the lack of people to stand up for righteousness, I often crawl back into my safe place of complacency and procrastination. A voice says, don’t write. Just keep watching. Keep your mouth shut. Who’s voice do you think that is? Some family, relatives and friends do not agree with me. They have their minds set on the color or letter of their party with no intention of listening to common sense. I think most people are doing what they see as right in their own eyes, but I am utterly stumped on how many people can actually justify their positions even in their own minds. I am at a loss how even some Christians can lay the open Bible next to their positions and honestly be okay with what they are saying.

I may have lost some friends by putting these thoughts out in public but I hope and pray it makes people think about what is really going on. Do you love our country of America or not? I wish the people who don’t love our country would go start their own somewhere else instead of ruining this one. I don’t mind if the president has rough edges and a less than perfect personality. Is that really important? There’s too much at stake. He is a “King Cyrus” of our modern day and is standing up for Christians and their values. Many Christians and pastors are timid and are not lighting their torch and running with it.

What kind of country do you want your children and grandchildren to have?  Do you want them to have a free country where you work out problems and discuss issues or a country where there will be a powerful few who dictate what you can do, where you can go, what you wear, how you live, or who or how you worship. This weekend is the fourth of July. Will we be able to celebrate the freedoms we have or is this a day that is a foreshadowing of what our lives will be like?

God is the only one in this world that’s completely reliable and faithful. He will be with us through this challenging and strange period of time. Let’s bring back all those wonderful patriotic hymns and songs. Pray we won’t be intimidated by the angry mob. Who will stand arm in arm with all races and colors in solidarity for our country and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

GOD BLESS AMERICA!