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The world is ablaze with wars, rumors of wars and utter confusion around the globe---the first of its kind terrorist state (caliphate) has been carved out in Northern Iraq and Syria (ISIS), while a second terrorist state was declared this week in Nigeria (Boko Haran). Both "states" are killing people by the thousands for a variety of reasons, but mostly because they believe differently than the leaders of the "state."
The military leaders in this administration, in an unguarded moment this week, told the American people, "We have not seen anything like this before" and "It is a direct threat to America."
In the following days, after political considerations and likely some direct conversation, they walked back their statements and, as they say, "Put it in context."
However, a new West Point Center report out last night challenges the notion that the terrorist movement just materialized in the last few weeks. The Center says this has been building for the past 4 years. Remember the president called them the "jayvee team" just a few weeks ago?
Returning from vacation with the world burning, President Obama is unveiling his new Global Warming Treaty, which isn't really a treaty, rather what a treaty would look like if he could get 2/3 of the Senate to approve it.
He says he is counting on "global peer pressure" to stop global warming.
Even the New York Times seems to be questioning his thinking and timing on the matter.
And there is a greater issue that looms over this great country. What is the vision for America?
What is your vision for America? Keep in mind that if there is no vision.....
The New York Times points out that "under the Constitution, a president may enter into a legally binding treaty only if it is approved by a two-thirds majority of the Senate."
The Times, a long time advocate for the president, says, "To side step the requirement, President Obama's climate change negotiators are devising what they call a 'politically binding' deal that would 'name and shame' countries into cutting their emissions."
While the world is spinning out of control, we would be "naming and shaming" countries whose cars and factories smoke too much?
The NYT, to their credit, also quotes Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) who said, "Unfortunately, this would be just another of many examples of Obama's tendency to abide by the laws that he likes and disregard laws he doesn't like..."
He's right.
Obamacare-DOMA-Immigration, etc. The list is long.
Late yesterday afternoon, The Hill, a more left than right leaning news source, put out this headline, "Climate Change Plan Spooks Democrats."
The plan and the philosophy behind it should spook all of us.
Secretary of State John Kerry, who is charged with overseeing the best interests of the US globally, calls global warming "perhaps the world's most fearsome weapon of mass destruction."
It seems the global warming agenda is ahead of the threat of terrorists on the "to-do" list. What is the president thinking?
Who knows what's in his heart? Only God.
But here's what he said. While sort of quoting an American astronaut, the president told his audience at Georgetown University that global warming "is a threat to everything we hold dear---the laughter of children, a quiet sunset, all the hopes and dreams of posterity."
In reality, the world is laughing and some say the sun is setting on the greatest nation in the history of the world---while others say "No, we are only entering the post American world where America is no longer thought to be exceptional---America is becoming irrelevant."
Many are "spooked." We have no effective leadership.
What really matters is what you think.
What is your vision for our country? And are you willing to stand up and be counted on behalf of that vision?
Did you vote in the last election? Only 1 in 3 did in Washington State. If so, did you vote for biblical values?
Clearly there is no enduring sustainable vision for our country on the part of current leadership---at least not one that carries our heritage forward.
John E. Nester was concerned about this very issue way back in 1973 when he wrote in an essay: "Whereas the American Dream was once equated with certain principles of freedom, it is now equated with things. The American Dream has undergone a metamorphosis from principles to materialism...When people are concerned more with the attainment of things than with the maintenance of principles, it is a sign of moral decay. And it is through such decay that loss of freedom occurs."
In his book, "God, Gold and Civil Government," Tom Rose gives what I believe is a profound description of liberty. He says true liberty has three main parts: "Liberty is like a three legged stool. It has three aspects, or legs: the Spiritual, the Economic and the Political. Each leg must be carefully preserved. If one leg is shortened or cut off, the stability provided by the other two will be hampered or lost, and ideal Liberty will come tumbling down."
America's Founders clearly understood that faith in the Creator and true Freedom are inseparable. I believe their worldview was a Christian worldview based on the Great Commission of the Gospel and biblically informed self government.
The inscription they chose to inscribe on the Liberty Bell affirms their beliefs: "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" (Lev. 25:10).
Solomon wrote, "Where there is no vision the people perish."
The American Dream can be better defined as the American Vision. It is the vision that led our Founders to establish a Constitutional Republic as a nation under God.
Daniel Webster, said to be America's most effective senator in history, reminded his colleagues to not forget how we got here: "Finally, let us not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were brought here by their high veneration for the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light and labored in its hope. They sought to incorporate its principles with the elements of their society, and to diffuse its influence through all its institutions--civil, political, or literary."
At the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Samuel Adams, known as the Father of the American Revolution said, "We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in Heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His Kingdom come."
Is the sun rising or setting on America? In great part, it depends on our participation with Almighty God in restoring America and the Liberty that is a gift from God.
We are long past the time for apathy, ignorance or excuses. This is the time.
Daniel Webster also said, "God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to guard and defends it."
Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Ready. Be Pro-Active. Be Prayerful. Be Blessed. Be Free.