I looked up my screen name I use to see what was still on the web about me and I found this that I wrote in 2003.

--> I don't post very often. Between work and school and raising my dogs and keeping up with my friends I don't have a lot of time to answer messages or even write them. I had a long conversation last night with my night staff about the"blackout" and how it related to prophesies in the Bible. The conversation turned to morale issues and how Christians should be walking and talking and living in our time.

Both of us have been in various churches and have seen the steady decline in what is morally permissible. Anyone can see a morale decline in the lives of the people of our nation between now and 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago.

The contrast I want to focus on is as the world steadily declines in behavior and permissibility shouldn't the church and individual Christians shine brighter? Unfortunately there is a clear pattern of decline in many accounts in the old testament showing that as the nations declined in morality so did it's religious leaders. Priests and leaders succumbed to the perversion that went on around them arguably maybe to a lesser degree but it wass till wrong in God's eyes.

Our moral acceptability has been our weakness as a nation that allows expression of self and freedom in almost any form. We allow ourselves to let so much gunk come into our lives that it chokes out God's spirit.

The big concern we see is the push of the homosexual agenda. There are so many lesser things that slip by often times unnoticed until it's too late. The movies that we watch and that we allow our families to watch are one. We take issue with the violence and the cursing yet how many murders and killing have you watched in your lifetime? How many rapes? How many sexual acts? How many times have we watched witchcraft or magic? or someone stealing or someone doing anything that we knew was wrong and enjoyed it?

Movies are only a small part of what we let into our lives. We feed on the news of our nation and 95% of that is negative information. We read the horoscopes and listen to the fortune tellers and tarot card readers who divine the evil spirits for information? If it doesn't come from God where does it come from? The magazines and newspapers we read are full of negative images and information. How often do we listen to un-Christ like music? Have you listened to the words of your favorite songs? Are they edifying and lifting up God or a fellow Christian? How many men are addicted to porn? Physically what are you letting into your body? Do you smoke? Drink excessive alcohol? Take too many over the counter or prescription drugs? Addicted to caffeine? Are you a glutton feasting after every church service (I am)?

Lest you think that I'm only preaching to you I'm ministering to myself. There are sooooo many areas where I didn't even know I was falling short. I am a Christian and I am in ministry but I also am a man and I struggle with many of the temptations that are common to men. I just wanted to put out some things to think on because it would be a terrible thing for you to have spent all your life thinking that you were the cream of the crop only to find out that your life is based on the immorality of the world.

Glad to see you in the community.

You are right, as I was reading your post it recalled to mind the song "Slow Fade".

Great post...I agree with you. If we really examined ourselves we would know just how lacking we really are in our RELATIONSHIP with & to Christ. It does seem as though we are just scratching the surface instead of living on the cutting edge of faith.

I believe that God is calling all those who truly love Him to die to our self so he can increase. Will we allow him to crack that old man so He can live with ALL liberty in us?

I'm working that one out in my life. Lately I feel like two people but I want to new wineskin that will be able to hold fire. By the grace of God & not of myself though.

Thanks for sharing...God bless...