America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.

Abraham Lincoln

How do you explain three teenagers gunning down a complete stranger in cold blood just because they were bored? You cannot, but that is exactly what they said when confessing to their cowardly shooting of an unarmed man in the back this past week.

How do you explain a man giving out military secrets, being convicted in a military court, and then stating that he is feeling like a woman these days. Guess who will likely end up paying for an operation for this traitor?

How do you explain a nation that institutes a health care plan that includes people who are against abortion having to pay for women to murder their own children?

It is depravity!

You cannot explain depravity, but I have a few suggestions. For the three young men, let's bring back public hangings. Let's show other bored young men what happens to sociopaths. For the man who is feeling like a woman, let's allow the men and women who are proud to serve in the very military that this young man betrayed perform the sex-change operation for him... at no cost what-so-ever!

And to those women - the ones who want us to stay out of their wombs - I have a suggestion for you as well: Stay out of my wallet!

You cannot explain depravity, it's true, but if you think about it hard enough you can come up with acceptable solutions to this insanity. And, if it makes them mad, just remember: They are depraved anyway.

Before closing, I would be remiss if I didn't say this: There are a lot of people who want to be good, but they have been lied to by depraved people as to what is good and what is bad. For these people, we should have sincere sympathy. We should raise up sincere prayers on their behalf. But we should never, never, never go along with their foolishness, for that would make us just as depraved as they.

Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness...

Romans 1:28-29, NIV

When I came, why was there no one? When I called, why was there no one to answer?

God's question to the people of Israel as recorded in Isaiah 50:2, NIV

I have been a bit hesitant to write on this topic, for it is a difficult one to hear. My question is, "Where have all the men gone?" We all watch with dismay as people in positions of authority intentionally try to stir up racial strife in America... and it is working because men will not stand up and tell them to stop... for fear that they might be branded as racists themselves.

We watch with dismay as our President makes a mockery of our Constitution, and yet there is no one in either his party or the opposition party to call him to task. Oh, they might try to score a few political points, but they do nothing, for this requires courage... and men of courage appear to be woefully absent from the public arena.

We watch with sadness as our nation continues to kill more babies each day than were killed by Muslim extremists in the cowardly attacks of 9/11. Yet there seems to be no one with love enough, with outrage enough, or with compassion enough to seem to do anything about it. Where, we might rightfully wonder, are the men... they are hiding behind the skirts of loud women who demand a "right to choose". Why is there no one to tell these selfish men and women that the right to choose comes before conception?

Again, we must ask, "Where are the men?". I fear that I know where they are. I fear that they are home. Drinking beer. Watching their big screen television. Playing video games. It's not that they are necessarily cowards. They are just too busy to be bothered...

We better wake up, men, or we may end up with no church, no freedom, and no younger generation to support us in our old age. Then, who will buy us our beer and wide-screen television sets?

This is a call to action. I know there are many good men and many, many good women who are willing to do their part. If you are willing to do your part, then this is not an indictment against you, but it is a call to wake up. Our children are counting on us. Our nation is counting on us. And, more importantly, God is counting on us.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Isaiah 6:8, NIV

I can't get no satisfaction. The Rolling Stones

Imagine for a moment how different your life would be if you didn't want more money. No, I'm not suggesting that we don't need money to survive, nor am I suggesting that capitalism is not the best way to run an economy if we desire to remain free. I'm not talking about being a slug and not wanting to improve your situation or your environment.

I just am wondering what life we be like... if we were satisfied with the blessings of the day.

Perhaps we would enjoy our lives more, if we were not continually worrying about "getting ahead". Again, I am not suggesting that we somehow abandon sound Bible teachings on staying out of debt or putting aside for a rainy day, I'm just saying that we can do these things without our thoughts being consumed by the process.

If we did not want more money, I suspect that our focus would be more upon the things that God has said are important. I believe we would enjoy our families more, that we would worship with the church more and that we would enjoy our leisure time more - for the simple reason that our thoughts concerning money would not be continually stealing from these times.

I recall a telephone conversation I had with a loan officer some 17 years ago. She was looking over our loan application and, while she said we had plenty of income to support the loan, her firm was concerned that our income had gone down significantly from the year before. When I explained that I was self-employed and had decided to work less hours to spend more time with my family, there was a pause at the other end. She said, "Wow! I have never heard anyone say that before".

How sad! But the really sad thing was that it took this workaholic over a dozen years to realize that God and family, not more money, were the keys to true wealth. I still have to remind myself of this... from time to time. How about you? Would your life be different if you didn't want more money?

Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But, if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

I Timothy 6:6-8, NIV

Happy the people whose God is Lord.

Do you ever long for happier times? Perhaps you remember the ways things were in the "good old days" before problems ever entered the world. You know exactly the times I am talking about - the times when you were young and good looking and healthy and carefree and happy, happy, happy!

Or maybe, you don't remember (at least not exactly) because if you did you would remember that you never lived during a time prior to problems entering the world. Only Adam and Eve remember those days, and they are not talking.

Still, once we are honest with ourselves and acknowledge that we have never lived during times of perfection, we do, however, remember better days when we were happier. What was it, exactly, that made us so happy?

I believe that most of us remember being happy during those times that we trusted God and enjoyed peace with those around us. Those times were indeed happy times because trust and peace are highly correlated to happiness. The reason that so many do not feel content now is because they allow evil people to divert their attention. Now it is obvious that we cannot simply ignore evil people (many people tried this and failed under Adolph Hitler's reign - and lived to regret their inattention) but once we have given proper attention to evil men, what prevents our happiness then?

I believe our lack of happiness comes when we take our eyes off of God. We sometimes get so caught up with what evil people are doing that we forget who is in control. It is not the President or the economy or that sorry relative or neighbor that is robbing you of happiness - it is you!

Why, you might indignantly be asking? For the same reasons that make me unhappy, when I am unhappy: A lack of trust in God, combined with a refusal to take responsibility for my own happiness. When you and I really and truly take responsibility for those things that are in our control and then

trust God to take care of everything else

then, and only then, we will be happy again.

And, happiness makes you feel younger and healthier and better looking and more carefree. You should try it - we all should try it!

O taste and see that the Lord is good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Psalms 34:12, RSV