A Star Spangled Question

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…hangs in the air.

We know the song – we know it by heart, but no longer hear the words. Or maybe we’re just not listening to what we’re singing.

…or not singing.

And maybe that’s the problem.

But whenever the Anthem is unfurled, the question which remains unanswered.

Differing opinions are healthy and necessary in a free society:

Welcome to America! (…wear a helmet)

We argue politics in the pew, and religion in the street. Team rivalries divide family and friends, but before kick-off we stand (…or should) shoulder to shoulder…

Red and Blue
Blue and White
White and Black

…united we stand, divided we kneel.

There is no room for competing allegiances or dueling anthems. We must be one flag, one anthem, one nation… under God.

Multiculturalism is not just destructive, it is self-destructive, and a contradiction. A society is defined by its culture.

Of course, the DEI crowd doesn’t necessarily object to a single culture, just so long as it ain’t uniquely American.

But just as the Crayola flag reflects every hue but white (…white men, straight white men), the cultural arsonists set out to torch the ideas and values that made America great – a culture that drew immigrants to America in the first place.

They’d be happy if we all hid in a tunnel.

We make the mistake of believing that our freedoms, having been won, can never be lost. But whatever we fail to pass on to our children, we will never have again.

There was no guarantee that our voyage into self-government would succeed. Or even survive.

By 1812, we were dead body deep in another war with a familiar foe. The Empire had burned our Capital and was on the march again. And the heroes of our revolution were long gone.

As Fort McHenry crumbled under a naval bombardment, Francis Scott Key found himself a British captive. Aboard a prison ship, he peered into the dawn of September 14th for an answer. And, yes… our flag was still there.

But that wasn’t the question.

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free
And the home of the brave?


Level Ground
There will no unity until the closed fist is replaced by an open hand. And no peace until the unrepentant pardon the unforgiven.

The Cry of the Rocks
Truth can be ignored but cannot be made untrue. Truth just is, even if held by just one. One plus God.

Among Thieves

Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb.

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

John 1:22 Who art thou? 23 I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord. 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John 10:1 He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Luke 24:7 The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

Matthew 27:11 And [Pilate] asked him: Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. 31 and led him away to crucify him.

Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him. Mark 15:27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. 28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith… Isaiah 53:12 He was numbered with the transgressors.

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary.

John 14:6 I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 27 Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.


The Cry of the Rocks
Truth can be ignored but cannot be made untrue. Truth just is, even if held by just one. One plus God.

Level Ground
There’s a baggage check at the altar. Come as you are. Don’t leave the way you came.