The Remedy for America

   

 It's been awhile since I posted on this blog but with the present issue being argued in the Supreme Court I thought that I would say a few things.
   You see, as I watch and listen to my fellow conservatives with their high hopes of a national renewal of conservatism, my heart is heavy, not because of the reality, but because of the refusal to acknowledge it. So, though I am not a prophet, I do know what the word of God says about the last days, and I think we are in the last days up to our eyebrows!
   I remember when I was a boy how that homosexuals were viewed as "queer", "odd" and perverted. Now, homosexuality is tolerated, accepted, and even applauded in the entertainment industry, in places of higher learning, and in houses of government. In the days of my youth I was aware of homosexuality but it was a hushed thing. They did their thing and so long as they were quiet about it and didn't make a fuss it was not discussed. But today we see parades and appeals for "equality" and such. But the mere fact that we're even discussing the issue reveals how low or morals have declined. It's hard to believe that a person's sexual preference and their sexual behavior is even being heard by the Supreme Court of our land!
   Our people have become numb to gross behavior. We watch movies where unmarried people are in bed with one another (it's called fornication), or when two people, married but not to each other, fall in love and commit adultery and we slip into a moral nap, and sometimes even root for their adultery. C'mon, admit it! You know it's true! And so our real life morality takes a hit because of our emotions and we don't realize we've just been subjected to a Satanic ruse!
   And so, over the years, after being inundated by the forces of religious and social liberalism into accepting this gross behavior, we find ourselves suddenly faced with issues that were clearly defined in the past but clouded today. What has happened? And how do we fix it?
                                                                                                   

  Well, I just wrote four paragraphs explaining what has happened and I will tell you that we can't fix it! Have you ever heard of Humpty Dumpty? All the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't put poor Humpty together again! Political Conservatism cannot fix the problem because the problem is NOT political. It is a Spiritual Problem and there is only one spiritual fix, one remedy and only one remedy. The truth is that the majority of Americans are NOT Christian. In fact, a very small minority are. I am convinced that Americans, generally, don't like to face truth, we are, as a people, much more likely to accept fantasy about ourselves, about other nations, about our friends and about our enemies. We're much more comfortable with our heads in the sand than we are looking clearly through clear air! And, just as the medical community is far more concerned with relieving our symptoms than they are with finding cures, the American people keep wanting to address the social and political symptoms rather than face the truth of the cure! You see our president, our congress, our courts, and the issues of the day are all just symptoms of a people who have turned their backs on God and His righteousness. Work on the symptoms all you want but you'll never put America together again!!! We often pray and ask God to bless America but we don't stop to consider, given our sorry spiritual condition, that He can't bless us who have become stiff necked and rebellious!
   Because of condition is spiritual in nature the remedy must be spiritual in nature as well. National repentance is called for but we all know, or should know that it will never happen. In fact, even through the great revivals of bygone days there never was a national repentance.

                                                               
   So, is there any good news? Yes, there is! You see I don't believe there is a single reference to the United States of America, specifically, in the Bible but we are part of the world and that means that when Jesus Christ returns, if any of America is left at that time, America will be under Christ's rule. Justice will prevail. But more than that, the individual American, that means YOU, can be right with God. It would take a huge percentage of Americans to bring about a national revival but there's only one of you. Start with you! Have you recognized yourself as a sinner who has offended a Holy God? Do you know and believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross in the place of every man, woman, or child who will believe? Do you know and understand that by acknowledging Christ as Savior and appealing to Him for forgiveness your sins can be washed away and forgotten? ...that you can become a part of God's family?...that you can receive blessings you never realized? This is remedial dear friends, perhaps not for the nation, but for you! Call on Jesus Christ today if you have not.
"And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31:34); "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." (John 6:45); "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." (John 6:47)

The True Meaning of Separation of Church and State

     Our education system is a failure especially regarding United States History. It's hard to believe that in 2012 so many people do not understand the "separation of church and state issue". Here is what the Amendment says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
     According to many on the left the words “separation of church and state” are in the Constitution, which they are NOT; they are not found in the Amendments to the Constitution, which we call the Bill of Rights, either. The truth is that the phrase “separation of church and state” comes from a Letter written by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist, reassuring them that the 1^st Amendment supplies a “wall of separation between Church and State”. This “wall of separation” is to prevent government, and especially Federal Government from infringing on the rights declared in the 1^st Amendment. You see at the time of the Constitution the Episcopalian Church especially was the state church of Virginia, for instance. Everyone in Virginia, regardless of their personal faith, was counted as Episcopalian. Baptists and others still struggled with persecution. Patrick Henry and others demanded the Bill of Rights as protection from State Churches as well as Federal intrusion.

As I see it reading and comprehension skills are lacking among modern households and especially households who still think we live in a democracy and who are indeed democrats. So I think there ought to be special education for these people. I am convinced there is a form of mental retardation that has been unrecognized among educators because most educators are democrats. It's like the blind leading the blind. They are suffering from the same retardation.

    People with good reading skills and comprehension skills understand what the 1 Amendment “wall” really is. It is a protection FROM Government intrusion and NOT protection of the Government from religion!

    BUT the problem is a deeper problem, an evil and dangerous methodology that seeks the ruination of our Nation by undermining the authority of the Constitution of the United States and thereby, weakening the Republic of the United States, altering it to become a democracy, which it is not, and was never meant to be.

    One might ask “Why would this particular amendment be attacked in such a way?”  It is because we Americans have certain inalienable rights that are God granted. When we exercise those rights we do so as a free and powerful people with a free and powerful voice. But there are those who wish to silence our voices to crush our foundations. You see so long as we are a Republic we have that voice and those rights regardless of age, sex, color, size or anything else. All that matters is that we are Americans!

    Here is a quote I got from someplace, don’t remember where but it is accurate: “By definition, a republic is a representative form of government that is ruled according to a charter, or constitution, and a democracy is a government that is ruled according to the will of the majority. Although these forms of government are often confused, they are quite different. The main difference between a republic and a democracy is the charter or constitution that limits power in a republic, often to protect the individual's rights against the desires of the majority. In a true democracy, the majority rules in all cases, regardless of any consequences for individuals or for those who are not in the majority on an issue.”

     So, back to the “separation of church and state issue” we go. All of these intertwine. Our Republic is based upon the foundation of our Constitution which is our rule of law. The Amendments, called the Bill of Rights are attached to the Constitution as clarification of certain issues. They stand or fall together! If the left can get away with re-interpreting the “separation of church and state issue” then they can get away with altering ANY part because they have succeeded in silencing those free and powerful voices. And remember, if the Federal government can take away these freedoms from religious people, they can take these freedoms away from anyone, including the press!

BUT anyone who has reading and comprehension skills can read this 1st Amendment and understand that it is a protection of our religious freedoms, including religious speech, writing, and assembly! And let me say that this amendment is especially important because it reflects on our Republic form of government, which itself being based on the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights wherein we find this amendment and the others, and is the foundation of our government. Attacking the 1st Amendment is an attack on the Constitution of the United States which in turn is an attack on our Republic, which amounts to treason! Therefore I propose that those who attack our 1st amendment are traitors to our country and worthy of banishment if not harsher punishment! They are certainly NOT Patriots!BUT anyone who has reading and comprehension skills can read this 1st Amendment and understand that it is a protection of our religious freedoms, including religious speech, writing, and assembly! And let me say that this amendment is especially important because it reflects on our Republic form of government, which itself being based on the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights wherein we find this amendment and the others, and is the foundation of our government. Attacking the 1st Amendment is an attack on the Constitution of the United States which in turn is an attack on our Republic, which amounts to treason! Therefore I propose that those who attack our 1st amendment are traitors to our country and worthy of banishment if not harsher punishment! They are certainly NOT Patriots!BUT anyone who has reading and comprehension skills can read this 1st Amendment and understand that it is a protection of our religious freedoms, including religious speech, writing, and assembly! And let me say that this amendment is especially important because it reflects on our Republic form of government, which itself being based on the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights wherein we find this amendment and the others, and is the foundation of our government. Attacking the 1st Amendment is an attack on the Constitution of the United States which in turn is an attack on our Republic, which amounts to treason! Therefore I propose that those who attack our 1st amendment are traitors to our country and worthy of banishment if not harsher punishment! They are certainly NOT Patriots!. BUT anyone who has reading and comprehension skills can read this 1st Amendment and understand that it is a protection of our religious freedoms, including religious speech, writing, and assembly! And let me say that this amendment is especially important because it reflects on our Republic form of government, which itself being based on the United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights wherein we find this amendment and the others, and is the foundation of our government. Attacking the 1st Amendment is an attack on the Constitution of the United States which in turn is an attack on our Republic, which amounts to treason! Therefore I propose that those who attack our 1st amendment are traitors to our country and worthy of banishment if not harsher punishment! They are certainly NOT Patriots!

 

Democracy or Republic: Why Does It Matter?

DEMOCRACY OR REPUBLIC? THIS IS IMPORTANT!

 

“By definition, a republic is a representative form of government that is ruled according to a charter, or constitution, and a democracy is a government that is ruled according to the will of the majority. Although these forms of government are often confused, they are quite different. The main difference between a republic and a democracy is the charter or constitution that limits power in a republic, often to protect the individual's rights against the desires of the majority. In a true democracy, the majority rules in all cases, regardless of any consequences for individuals or for those who are not in the majority on an issue.”

    Why is this important? Ours is often called a “constitutional democracy” which is practically synonymous with “Republic”. A Republic is a representative government which operates “according to a charter, or constitution”. This constitution protects the rights of individuals and minorities against the majority. In a true democracy there is no protection because if the majority desires a thing, for even selfish reasons, they can legally do injury to the individual or minorities.

   When you hear politicians and others speak about our country as a democracy they are speaking either out of ignorance, stupidity, or they are revealing their heart’s desire. What you need to know is that most democrats would like to put our constitution on a shelf and cover it with dust because of its restraining influence. This is why the upcoming election is so important. You see, we have judges on the Supreme Court who have disdain for our constitution. They believe it is outdated and, like those who hate a literal translation of the Bible, they want it to be interpreted by dynamic equation. That is, they want that “change” that our current president has repeatedly proposed. Most democrats want a democracy…not a Republic!

    Our United States Constitution is in danger! Our Constitution is what has made the United States exceptional among nations. The Bill of Rights amended to our Constitution is what protects our rights to bear arms, our rights to assemble, or freedom of speech, and our protection as individuals. But a movement has been underway to confuse the populous about democracy. This is why the democrats continue referring to our country as a democracy and failing to define us as a “Constitutional Democracy” or Republic. This movement is subtle in many ways, and patient. Its leaders know that a thing has to be said over and over again until the public becomes so used to it they adopt it. They use the “frog in the frying pan” approach. This should be no surprise to those of us who are old enough to remember the communist’s promise to destroy us from within because we have communists in high places today and they HATE our Constitution!

In fact, I believe our current president has communist tendencies. He is definitely a socialist and has great disdain for our constitution and has proven it by his actions. Michael Barone writes, “That scorn has been expressed most recently in his “recess” appointments of members of the National Labor Relations Board and the chairmanship of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The quotation marks are appropriate because when he made the appointments the Senate was not in recess as the Constitution requires.” (See Article II, Section 2) This is just one example and there are others but since this essay is getting too long already we’ll forgo any others.

    Keep in mind that the upcoming elections will determine the status of our country in the world. Our Constitution is indispensable to our Republic. We need to check those who would destroy it!

 

Civility , Mendacity, or Transparency?

"Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Cor.5:8) 

     I've been thinking about the public discourse of the last couple of weeks regarding civility and I'm wondering what it is that we really want. I mean, of course we should all be kind and considerate of one another and our differences of opinion regarding a variety of subjects. I think of what we call "The Golden Rule". Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12) The Christian is taught, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Col.3:17) So, for the Christian, civility should not even be question, although even we can, at times, become uncivil.

     A well known radio talk show host recently caused a stir by using words that were less than diplomatic when describing the activity of a woman who was being used by the present administration to appeal for forced contraceptive costs to be paid by her employer, a religious organization. Of course there was an immediate reaction, by the press, to the words this commentator used, which caused a public uproar. And it deflected the point from being about forcing religious institutions from having to go against their religious convictions, to being about contraception.Now I don't believe this commentator is a Christian other than nominally, so his words were harsh. But they were also true!

      What I have realized is that Americans really don't like truth. It makes them uncomfortable. So when popular television shows promote promiscuity they would not like to be titled what they are really about. I don't think "Sin in the City", replaced by "Whores in the City" would be a popular name, but according to traditional usage of the word it would be correct. I have relatives that, according to proper traditional usage, could rightly be called "whores" or "sluts". It wouldn't be kind, but it would be honest to do so. A television show like "Two and A Half Men" has a constant flow of sluts and whores, and, when Charlie Sheen starred in the program, featured a bona-fide fornicator! Any of these programs that have a character who is sleeping with one guy after another is featuring a slut. It is sluttish behavior!

     Our problem is that we have tried to become so civil that our morals have dropped dramatically! We call homosexuals "gay", when, for the most part, they are far from being gay. We call adultery having an affair. The word "affair" can have lots of different meanings. Years ago one could say, "I just got home from having a gay affair!", and it would only mean he or she had attended a happy or fun event. Now the words "gay" and "affair" carry an evil connotation to them which simply shouldn't be! Why do we constantly want to water down these expressions to blunt their meaning, or change them to have different meanings? It's because our morality has lowered to such a degree. Admittedly, to call a homosexual a "queer" like we did when I was young, seems to be a little sharp, but if you look the word up in the dictionary, one of the definitions is, "differing from the usual or ordinary" and, frankly, I think it fits quite well, though because I'm "civil" I don't use it in public discussions.

     That brings me to the point of this post which is, "What is it we want, civility or mendacity? Frankly I like to know where people stand on issues, and strong, fervent language does not bother me. I'm not afraid to call the kettle black, and neither should anyone else!

When a soldier goes to battle it is a great relief to know who the enemy is. In days gone by they could be identified by their flag or by their uniforms or any number of ways but in today's world it is difficult because they don't wear common uniforms or carry flags. If they did it would be a great help! So, I like it when the democrats identify their positions. I don't like dishonesty and I don't want a man to identify himself as a friend when he is, in fact, an enemy!

     It's not the use of name calling that bothers me so much if what is being said is true and not just a knee-jerk reaction, and, if there were not a double standard in society's reaction. The word "mendacity" means dishonesty or falsehood. There are certain individuals like late night comedians, political commentators on the left, and even Representatives and Senators who have used harsh and untruthful language regarding, not only their opponents, but private citizens as well. Even the president has used mendacity, sophistry, and just plain meanness to attack his opponents, and again, private citizens as well. So it is nothing short of blatant hypocrisy for them to cry out for civility!

     So which is it we want? I think truth is superior to civility. You can be civil by saying for instance, "Our president is doing the best he can, and though he's made a few honest mistakes, his intentions are honorable." Now that would definitely be a civil statement but would it be an honest one? No, as I stated in the previous paragraph, at least for me, that would not be honest so I would be guilty of mendacity to make such a statement! I like to know who is my friend and who may be an opponent and I want that opponent to say what he or she thinks, not what they think may be generous or mendacious.

      In our "Politically Correct" society we have settled for mendacity but that's really all one can expect for a society whose morals are at an all time low. Some societies were destroyed by the command of the Lord for having such low morals. Some societies were slowly eaten away from within by this cancerous moral decline. Do we want to be kind? Yes! Do we want to be fair? Yes! Do we want to be considerate? Yes! But we want to be honest in the process and we don't want to be tactfully deceitful. So it would be good if we'd grow a little thicker skin, if we'd learn to "take it as well as dish it out", and if everyone would be decidedly honest as well as kind. But above all I appreciate transparency, that way I probably won't get stabbed in the back!

America Is Not Just Changing; America Has Changed!

                                                                                                                                                 

     One of the things I keep hearing these days is that if the current occupant of the White house gets

reelected America will never be the same. This is true but the fact is America is, and has been changing for a long time. It is certainly changed from the time I was a kid! It's changed economically, socially, and morally.

    I hear people get angry over President Obama's assertion that the United States is not a Christian nation but he is only stating the obvious! Yes, at one time America WAS a Christian nation, and yes, even today America is nominally Christian by majority, but there is no way we can be considered a Christian nation. If we were, President Obama would NEVER have been elected and neither would many of the present office holders in his administration, a number of members of the Senate, a few from the House of Representatives, and others, from the Governors of states on down to the local level!

    Just look at the national debates over birth control, abortion, gay rights and same sex marriage. If this were a Christian nation none of these things would be debatable! Every true Christian knows that same sex marriage is wrong; every true Christian knows that abortion is wrong! How can a Christian nation allow the Ten Commandments to be kicked out of our public schools? How can a Christian nation even consider whether prayer should be allowed in schools? Christian nation?...far from it!

     If ours were a Christian nation the television and movie industry would be churning out G movies only. If we were a Christian nation the National Endowment For the Arts would be strictly regulated. If we were a Christian nation stores would still be closed on Sunday. If we were a Christian nation Christianity would be held in high regard. If we were a Christian nation our leaders would have to profess Christianity or they would not be elected, which, by the way, was true at one time in our history. If we were a Christian nation Israel would be confident of our alliance. If we were a Christian nation Muslims would not come here!

     When I was a boy things had already changed! I was born in 1947 and WWII had ended just shortly before. Women were now in the work place. America was in recovery economically from a costly war. Sometime early in my youth we had a black and white television set and, as I recall, though there were comedy programs like Sid Caesar and Jackie Gleason shows, there was never any foul language and there certainly was no sexual innuendo, let alone nudity. There were programs like Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans, the Lone Ranger, the Cisco Kid. You never heard a swear word from television. My dad could swear pretty good but we didn't see it on t.v. Dress was modest and men and women alike had a sort of code about beach wear. Not everyone was a Christian. I did NOT grow up in a Christian family but there was a Christian culture that was understood. It was evolving and not for the better! During my teenage years I saw this change speed up.

     Now, here we are in 2012 and what do we have? Is this a Christian nation? Definitely not! Our president claims he is a Christian but he does nothing to show it. It fact, according to his own testimony regarding his "Muslim faith", one would better assume he is a Muslim. Personally I don't think he's anything but self-worshipping but he is correct when he says we are not a Christian nation. Perhaps it's just the way he says it, as though he's bragging about our not being a Christian nation; as though that is something to be admired. But friends, we have been changing for a very long time and NOT for the best.

      You see the truth is, that relatively few in our society are true Christians. Many claim to be Christians because they have been, at some time in their past, part of a Christian group, or had Christian relatives, or embrace certain Christian associations, but relatively few are true Christians. And because they are not true Christians they cannot discern moral issues the same way that Bible believing Christians do. A large percentage of nominal Christians do not believe in absolute truth and, of course, to the Christian, the Bible is absolute truth. A very high percentage of nominal Christians do not accept the whole Bible; they pick and choose. And high percentage of nominal Christians don't know where they stand on the major doctrines of the faith. And, since most "Christians" are nominally so, they cannot discern those  politicians who are bad for our country. The very nature of a politician is to do whatever it takes to get elected, so lying is a necessary means to an end. And if the politician is not a true Christian than we cannot expect him to have Christian values. He may have values but they will not be Christian values. Truth and honor will not be high on his list of priorities!

                                                                                            

     If we were to go back to the founding of our nation we would find that Christian principles mattered. In fact, the Mayflower Compact clearly states the establishment of a Christian community as its goal. The early settlers were Puritans and their communities were Christian. They may have been a bit prejudiced regarding their particular brand of Christianity. It took some struggles, for instance, for Baptists to finally establish a free Christian community in Rhode Island. BUT, THEY WERE CHRISTIAN!

    So, in closing, I know for certain that we, at our founding (by founding I mean in regards to white settlers) were Christian. But, as it goes, Christians are not born physically, but spiritually, so Christianity, true Christianity is not inherited. And if the Christian message is not propagated, if the gospel is not passed on and preached by mothers and fathers then the children will end up "Christian" in name only except by the election of God. Therefore, if we desire a Christian nation it will take every Christians influence. I personally believe things have gone too far and that there is no chance of remedy. Our forefathers let us down by not standing for Christian truth and Christian principles and our country has changed. It's not changing only, it has changed!

You Just Can't Judge A Person By His Color!

  
                                                                         

     Wednesday I had to pick my son up at his school because the serpentine belt broke on my van which he had been driving to school. Yesterday I moved it from the school parking lot and took it to my sister's house till I can get it repaired. I'm depending on a couple of friends who are able to do such things.

     Anyway, it reminded me of the last time a serpentine belt broke and a lesson that I learned along the way. My family and I had gone to Dauphin, Pennsylvania to attend a wedding near Harrisburg. We went to the wedding and, on the way to the reception the serpentine belt broke on this same van and there we were, in strange area, and on a Saturday afternoon. It got even stranger as we found we could drive for short distances and then, letting the engine cool, we could then drive a little further as we searched for someplace, anyplace where we might find repair.

     We knew the way to the reception so as we proceeded we began to notice that all of the businesses had bars on their windows. It was a bit of a run down area, kind of dark and dingy, and we began to grow more and more uncomfortable, especially when we noticed that there were comparatively few "white" people seen. Most of the people that we were seeing were either black, Hispanic, or oriental.

                                                                                               

When we pulled into a gas station to get some information about where we might get some help I noticed that the attendants were behind a steel cage. Now I really got uncomfortable and began to wonder what I had gotten my family and myself into.

    The people behind the counter told me of an auto repair around the corner so I walked there (it was daylight) and asked for some assistance but I was told they were closing for the day and that they could not help so I returned and found everyone still in tact. The strange thing is that, as people stopped for gas, many of them asked if we needed help. They must have thought it was strange for us to be there. There were black people, Hispanic people, Asian people asking if we were o.k. and seeming genuinely concerned.

   I don't remember exactly who brought who, but a fellow came by on foot and asked if he could be of help. He said he had a small shop in the community and did some repair. He looked the situation over and said he could help. By this time one of the relatives showed up and picked my family up for the reception. Now I was alone and at the mercy of people whom I did not know, whom I did not trust, and of whom, admittedly, I was a little afraid.

   This gentleman took note of the year and make of my van and said he'd be back and, in about a half hour he was, with a new serpentine belt. He had brought some tools with him and proceeded to put the belt on. He knew what he was doing and the job was done in a very short time. He showed me the receipt for the belt, for which I did not ask, and then I paid him for the belt and what I figured the going rate would be for a certified mechanic, for which HE did not ask!

     In no time at all I was on my way to the reception and amazed! I was amazed that people that I did not know, that I did not trust, and of whom I was uncomfortable, were some of the kindest people I have ever come across! I realized that, even though I had always considered myself unprejudiced and impartial, in truth I really was! I realized that had this been a totally white community none of the uneasiness and fear would have been felt. I realized that you can't judge a person by his color!

     Now, as you read this you probably consider yourself to be an unprejudiced person as well. But if you should find yourself in a situation similar to what I have just described, you'll find out if your opinion of yourself stands.

Life In A Secular Environment

     "We've come a long way, baby!", and it's NOT good! There was a time when the great universities of America were Christian in their foundations. Universities like Princeton and Harvard produced some great minds and godly pastors. There was a time in America when all who settled here were of Puritan faith. There was a time in America when, if a man was going to run for public office, he had to profess faith in Jesus Christ. There was a time in America when certain things were simply not discussed in the public arena. There was a time when modesty prevailed, when character mattered, when righteousness was pursued, and when the Christian ethic was respected.

     Then we come to 2012 and what do we find? We find that a young woman can sit in a congressional hearing and testify that her sexual exploits are so common, so often, that she needs her University, a Roman Catholic University, to provide for her contraceptive needs. And, furthermore, that her contemporaries find themselves in the same position! And the shocking thing is that nobody in the hearing questioned her immorality! No one in the television media questioned the immorality of these women.

     I looked up the word "slut" in my Webster's New World Dictionary and one of the definitions is a sexually promiscuous woman. The young woman in question is not married, and I assume that, for the most part, her contemporaries are not married, so it begs the question, "Is the use of the word slut accurate?"

      The next word that I looked up (I want to be accurate) is the word "whore" and I found that a whore is a sexually promiscuous woman or a prostitute. So I considered whether this word is a fitting word for someone who testifies that she is promiscuous and wants others to monetarily support her promiscuity. I think it is!

     One more word that I felt like I needed to research is the word "prostitute" and guess what I found! I found that one of the definitions of a prostitute is "a woman who engages in promiscuous sexual intercourse for pay". As I considered this definition I concluded that, in the strictest sense the young woman was not being paid for her sexual indiscretions, but in a wider sense, she wants others to pay for her promiscuity! So, that particular word may, or may not be, applicable.

     This leads me to wonder if these words should be removed from the dictionary. I mean, if they are not supposed to be used to rightly describe the social and sexual activities of those engaging in them then why have them in the dictionary? And the next question is, "What has happened to a society that no longer wants to name behaviors for what they are?" I mean we like to call adultery having an affair. We call sodomites "gay". And, if someone should call a promiscuous woman a slut (which, by the way did not actually happen), then somehow the one using the term is the object of anger! I saw a sign a woman held up which said, "Sluts Vote Too!" and I thought, why isn't someone really angry at her self-admission?

     Recently in an interview the Christian actor Curt Cameron was asked about his views concerning gay marriage. He honestly told the interviewer his views, and now is being accused of hate speech! What has gone wrong with a society that cannot bear hearing truth? Must we all live in a fantasy world, a fairy tale world where nothing is real? Must we all agree on everything? Is it becoming fashionable to lie about what you believe just to fit in? And if we say what we believe are we preaching hate?

     It is very difficult for Christians to live in the secular world. The great persecutions of history are a testimony to that! But I'm talking about living in a free society that has had Christian roots. It always has been difficult, but I think it's getting worse because, at least for citizens of the U.S., we've seen a consistent decline in morality. Books, magazines, television shows, movies, the news media, and of course the Internet seem to be determined to progressively introduce more immorality to our society. So, while we are spiritual beings, we live in temporal flesh and we have to put on the full armor of God just to survive each day with our spirituality in tact!

     BUT, just because depravity abounds, does not make it acceptable to us. We must "call a spade a spade" if you will. We must not back down. Curt Cameron didn't and neither should we. And if a word, so long as it is not profane (in the negative sense), is found in our English dictionary, can describe an activity, let's not be afraid to use it. Yes, we are to be kind, and no we shouldn't be unkind in our descriptions of people or their actions, but we also must consider accuracy. "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." (Proverbs 25:11)