As I sat yesterday relaxing and reflecting on this Thanksgiving holiday, one thing became very, very clear to me: this country is sinking fast. No one can deny that even as little as a decade ago, we were the superpower of the world. Since the Industrial Revolution in the mid-to-late 19th century, America began to rise up as a nation of wealth, power, influence, integrity, notoriety and brilliant minds. 100 years later, it was undeniable that we were the biggest, richest, most powerful, most admired country in the world. Our citizens were fruitful and wealthy. We were free. We had our own businesses and investments. Sure, the automobile and manufacturing industries were declining, but we had technology. We had goods to export. We had patriotism, and a sense of purpose. We even had God. Back when I was in elementary school (in the early 80s) we would gather up all the classes every day during the last hour of school and sing Christmas carols every day during December. I distinctly remember construction paper murals of baby Jesus and the three wise men. I remember singing "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful." Christmas was not a "bad word" back then like it is now. God and Christ were not forbidden then in our public schools and offices like they are now.

Somewhere along the lines, it became taboo to mention Christ and God outside of our private homes. The whole "separation of Church and State" phrase had morphed to mean something it wasn't supposed to mean. If you ever want a really great history lesson on our founding fathers and how the Constitution of the United States was intended to PROTECT our right to religious freedom in all public places, watch this great video. It's a Sunday sermon from pastor Steve Hadley of Harvest Family Fellowship, about Thanksgiving and how it's truly a "Christian" holiday. But it also has a great history lesson -- perfect for a cold morning with a cup of coffee, or for home-schooled children who could use a good lesson on what it meant to our patriot forefathers to create a new nation "under God." It's about an hour or so, but well worth every minute (you'll even love the Thanksgiving joke at the beginning): America's Christian Founding -- the Lie of Separation of Church and State

But to paraphrase, the whole statement of "Separation of Church and State" was intended to PROTECT all instances of religious worship and expression in all public areas. So if a school wanted to put a nativity scene out front, that was protected under the constitution. If a courthouse wanted to put the Ten Commandments up on the entry way, they could. It basically meant that the "state" (government) could not stick its nose in anyone's "church" (expression of religion). But somewhere along the line (and the video tells specifically who/when/where) a court ruling used that "Separation of Church and State" statement to flip things around and define it in a backwards sort of way. Meaning now, NO example of religious freedom, worship or expression may be permitted in public areas that are touched by government.

Over this past decade -- and in the last few years in particular -- it has just completely morphed into an ugly thing. Now "Christmas" and "Christ" have become profanity to most companies and governments. No one is permitted to use either word. The "C" word, it's become. Business owners and employers now call it a "winter holiday" -- not "Christmas" vacation. President Obama has a "holiday" tree in the White House. Schools are no longer allowed to sing the religious Christmas carols, or depict any artwork or scenes involving Jesus. Advertising and TV commercials are careful not to say "Christmas" during the holiday season.

I understand that these entities are not going to come out and say that the holiday is about the birth of our savior, and that it's a holiday celebrating salvation through Christ. Okay, I get that. But is it really so taboo to call something for what it really is? I know that there is Kwanzaa and the Eid that (can) fall around the same time. I know Hanukkah is around the same time. I get that, too. But this season of giving... the shopping... the dinners... the time off of work... the music... the decorating... ALL of that came from a very specific holiday: The Birth of Jesus Christ.

What completely baffles me is the fact that our country nonchalantly shrugs off things like gay pride parades... or lesbian scenes on TV... the government turning our backs on Israel... or bailouts for every corrupt bank and financial organization... or Adam Lambert doing obscene gestures and kissing another guy on a music awards show... or covering the cost of abortions in our public health care bill... or President Obama wishing all of the Muslims a happy Eid, and commemorating their religious holiday and the Hajj pilgrimage when he won't even personally thank God or Christ when giving his national Thanksgiving speech...

What completely DISGUSTS me is the fact that Obama had no problem bringing religious discussion/people/expression into his campaign when he knew he had to in order to win over certain parts of the American public, but now that he's in office he makes no reference to Christianity whatsoever. It also disgusts me that he makes such open displays of support and endorsement of Muslim holidays and events.

Bottom like is this, folks... without Christ and God, we are doomed. And anyone who can look at our country now and think that one day we'll know prosperity, success and power again is completely blind. Our country is sinking downhill at such a fast pace that I suspect it won't be long before something very drastic and devastating happens. Remember, America is not mentioned figuratively or specifically in any Bible prophecy regarding the End Times. Why is that? I would assume because we're just not going to be around.

Why would our country be punished so severely over others, you ask? Well, to put it simply, God gave us something special and unique and wonderful. And we threw it back in His face. About 300 or so years ago, people came to this country to seek a better life. God gave this country to people as a safe haven for religious -- Christian religious -- expression. England wasn't letting them read the Bible in their own language, and the rulers were forcing them to conform to rules that weren't legitimate Christian rules. Therefore He provided them with a new land that was fertile, beautiful, fruitful. Here was a new Christian nation born, rising up in power, prestige, wealth and prosperity under the blessed laws and worship of God and Christ. It was a very good thing. Not that our country didn't have problems -- nothing in this world is perfect. But we were undeniably a very blessed nation. Over the past 4 or 5 decades, we basically turned our backs on the one thing that made this nation so rich, powerful and prosperous. And so here we are. Because of our disobedience, our scoffing, our refusal to acknowledge God and Christ, we WILL be destroyed. I can absolutely assure you of that. Even Christians will be destroyed in the devastation that is to come. The difference is, though, that Christians will immediately have peace, love and God at the end of their lives when they meet Jesus in Heaven. They are saved from eternal punishment and destruction, by faith in Christ.

There are so many verses in the Bible that show us how God does not look favorably on countries and governments who not only just ignore Him, but also completely turn away from Him. There are many, many verses in the Bible that talk about wealthy, deceitful people who think only of themselves and care only about their parties and fun. There are verses upon versus about corruption, pride, arrogance, selfishness, drunkenness, lewd behavior.

I challenge you to read the book of Isaiah. No, those passages aren't referring to the United States. But I assure you that if God felt a certain way about ancient Assyria or Israel or Moab or Damascus, that He would feel the exact same way about our country in this day/age/time.

Let me pull out just a few verses for you to think about, but read Isaiah. Read the book of Isaiah and substitute the word "America" whenever you see a country or region's name. And if after that you think our country still has a chance, then may God bless you and protect you from your naivete and denial.

We are in trouble, and the only way you can save yourself from true and sure impending destruction is to keep yourselves close to God, and strong in Christ. For there is life for those who believe in Christ. He came to die for our sins so that we could have eternal life when we die. It matters not to us what happens to our earth, because we know we'll have a new Earth to live on, and to love. But for those who are not in Christ, they only have darkness, destruction and death. Reach out to God, and be saved. To be "saved" means that no matter what happens here, you will have life.

Let's try it. Here are some passages -- take out the names of the countries or cities, and replace them with "America" or "United States" or "Washington, DC."

From the Book of Isaiah:

"Come now, let us reason together,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the best from the land;

but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword."
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

See how the faithful city
has become a harlot!
She once was full of justice;
righteousness used to dwell in her—
but now murderers!

Your silver has become dross,
your choice wine is diluted with water.

Your rulers are rebels,
companions of thieves;
they all love bribes
and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
the widow's case does not come before them.

Therefore the Lord, the LORD Almighty,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
"Ah, I will get relief from my foes
and avenge myself on my enemies.

I will turn my hand against you;
I will thoroughly purge away your dross
and remove all your impurities.

I will restore your judges as in days of old,
your counselors as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called
the City of Righteousness,
the Faithful City."

Zion will be redeemed with justice,
her penitent ones with righteousness.

But rebels and sinners will both be broken,
and those who forsake the LORD will perish. (1:18-28)


Jerusalem staggers,
Judah is falling;
their words and deeds are against the LORD,
defying his glorious presence.

The look on their faces testifies against them;
they parade their sin like Sodom;
they do not hide it.
Woe to them!
They have brought disaster upon themselves.

Tell the righteous it will be well with them,
for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.

Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them!
They will be paid back for what their hands have done.

Youths oppress my people,
women rule over them.
O my people, your guides lead you astray;
they turn you from the path.

The LORD takes his place in court;
he rises to judge the people.

The LORD enters into judgment
against the elders and leaders of his people:
"It is you who have ruined my vineyard;
the plunder from the poor is in your houses.

What do you mean by crushing my people
and grinding the faces of the poor?"
declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. (3:8-15)


Woe to you who add house to house
and join field to field
till no space is left
and you live alone in the land.

The LORD Almighty has declared in my hearing:
"Surely the great houses will become desolate,
the fine mansions left without occupants.

A ten-acre vineyard will produce only a bath of wine,
a homer of seed only an ephah of grain."

Woe to those who rise early in the morning
to run after their drinks,
who stay up late at night
till they are inflamed with wine.

They have harps and lyres at their banquets,
tambourines and flutes and wine,
but they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD,
no respect for the work of his hands.

Therefore my people will go into exile
for lack of understanding;
their men of rank will die of hunger
and their masses will be parched with thirst.

Therefore the grave enlarges its appetite
and opens its mouth without limit;
into it will descend their nobles and masses
with all their brawlers and revelers.

So man will be brought low
and mankind humbled,
the eyes of the arrogant humbled. (5:8-15)

Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.

Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine
and champions at mixing drinks,

who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
but deny justice to the innocent.

Therefore, as tongues of fire lick up straw
and as dry grass sinks down in the flames,
so their roots will decay
and their flowers blow away like dust;
for they have rejected the law of the LORD Almighty
and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Therefore the LORD's anger burns against his people;
his hand is raised and he strikes them down.
The mountains shake,
and the dead bodies are like refuse in the streets. (5:20-25)


The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said:

"Do not call conspiracy
everything that these people call conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
and do not dread it.

The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
he is the one you are to fear,
he is the one you are to dread,

and he will be a sanctuary;
but for both houses of Israel he will be
a stone that causes men to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people of Jerusalem he will be
a trap and a snare.

Many of them will stumble;
they will fall and be broken,
they will be snared and captured." (8:11-15)

You have abandoned your people,
the house of Jacob.
They are full of superstitions from the East;
they practice divination like the Philistines
and clasp hands with pagans.

Their land is full of silver and gold;
there is no end to their treasures.
Their land is full of horses;
there is no end to their chariots.

Their land is full of idols;
they bow down to the work of their hands,
to what their fingers have made.

So man will be brought low
and mankind humbled—
do not forgive them.

Go into the rocks,
hide in the ground
from dread of the LORD
and the splendor of his majesty!

The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled
and the pride of men brought low;
the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

The LORD Almighty has a day in store
for all the proud and lofty,
for all that is exalted
(and they will be humbled),

for all the cedars of Lebanon, tall and lofty,
and all the oaks of Bashan,

for all the towering mountains
and all the high hills,

for every lofty tower
and every fortified wall,

for every trading ship
and every stately vessel.

The arrogance of man will be brought low
and the pride of men humbled;
the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

and the idols will totally disappear.

Men will flee to caves in the rocks
and to holes in the ground
from dread of the LORD
and the splendor of his majesty,
when he rises to shake the earth.

In that day men will throw away
to the rodents and bats
their idols of silver and idols of gold,
which they made to worship.

They will flee to caverns in the rocks
and to the overhanging crags
from dread of the LORD
and the splendor of his majesty,
when he rises to shake the earth.

Stop trusting in man,
who has but a breath in his nostrils.
Of what account is he? (2:6-22)