The Perfect Storm

The decline of America should be obvious to any rationally thinking American. The explosion of crime, gang warfare and drive-by shootings in our cities; the disintegration of the American family, with proliferating divorce, infidelity, child abuse, single parent families, and teenage rebellion; the explosion of drug usage (the highest in the world); abortion on demand that kills millions of babies in their mother’s womb in the name of progress; the rampant spread of promiscuity, pornography, homosexuality, and sexually transmitted diseases; the dummying down of American children in the public school system; high taxation; the ignoring of our Constitution; exploding governmental controls over every aspect of the American peoples' lives; and gross immorality and corruption at the highest levels of the U.S. government are all irrefutable evidence of a country whose culture, morality, traditions, and spiritual life are in a free fall.

Our Lord allows storms to come into our lives for a variety of reasons. For unbelievers, some storms are sent to force them to cry out to God for salvation (i.e. September 11, 2001). In the case of believers, God some times will use a storm for correction, to bring back to His side as a parent would a child. Judgment can take on many forms; massive earthquakes, storms, floods, and fires (i.e., accelerating physical disasters); the removal of our financial prosperity; the proliferation of deadly diseases and plagues (i.e., consider AIDS, Hanta Virus, the flesh-eating virus or bacteria, or the Gulf War Syndrome); increasing oppression of the people and their freedoms by an all-powerful, collectivist government; the ascendancy of wicked, evil leaders who reject our traditional values, morality, history and culture; and eventually via attack by foreign powers (whether a New World [UN] Army, a reborn Russian and world Communist movement (including China), by radical Islam, or some combination of these groups). Is it just possible that these events are not just happening by coincidence, but are warnings from God? Americans are now either practicing or tolerating lifestyles which the Bible clearly states will remove God's blessings and bring the wrath of God. God has warned in the Bible that He will destroy any nation which openly practices fornication, adultery, homosexuality, sexual perversion and the shedding of the blood of innocent children including abortion and partial birth abortion.

The Perfect Storm -- When our country was in the grip of the aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, all of us where reminded how easily certain conditions bring us close to a total melt down. Certainly each of us can and do experience minor "storms" at different levels; the loss of a job, a loved one, a break-up, moving, health issues and other traumatic transitions can "knock you off balance" and make you feel that everything in life is coming apart. But when you combine several issues together; we see how quickly society breaks down.

Certainly our elections in 2008 can set the stage for more things to come; therefore, choose wisely. On the surface, things may look like they are improving, but remember, what is stated in a campaign doesn’t necessary come forward into policy.

The President of the United States sent a letter of congratulations for the Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration, 1998 at Disney World. In the letter the President stated: Our ideals and our history hold that the rights guaranteed us as Americans are inalienable. They are embedded in our Constitution and amplified over time by our courts and legislature, and I am bound by oath of office and the burden of history to reaffirm them... And we stand to lose when any person is denied or forced out of a job because of sexual orientation.

God's judgment is not a popular topic among most people, even among most Christians. The Church in America today shares in the responsibility for the decline in this once great land. Americans have become fat, dumb, lazy, apathetic, and complacent, in part due to being spoiled by 50 years of nearly uninterrupted prosperity since the end of World War II. Many can no longer discern the difference between good and evil, nor do they in any way take a stand against evil. Jesus said in Matthew 5:13: Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is henceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden underfoot of men.

There is a Perfect Storm looming on the not to distance horizon that will make our present situation look like a social hiccup; a storm that will make us all wonder how, where, and why did we allow our country (not to mention the world) get this way. We need to be ready for it; turn your hearts toward Him!